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 39 of 57: from “proving ground” to “radioactive”.
- proving ground noun A venue or project in which new technologies, methods, or techniques are tested.
- prune noun Something wrinkly like a prune.
- pry verb To inquire into something that does not concern one; to be nosy; to snoop.
- psychopath noun A person with no moral conscience.
- pub quiz question noun A well-known person or event that is doomed to become insignificant soon due to current events. Derived from the longer phrase "answer to a…
- public enemy number one noun A person, organization, or other object considered to be particularly menacing, harmful, or loathsome.
- publican noun One regarded as extorting money from others by charging high prices.
- puddle up verb To make (something) muddy or confusing.
- pudendum noun A shameful part of something.
- puff up verb To become proud. (Often written as puffed up with pride.)
- puffball noun Something lacking substance.
- puffed up adj Proud, presumptuous.
- pug verb To pack or tamp (something) into a small space.
- pugilist noun One who engages in rhetorical attacks, for himself or on behalf of another.
- pull noun An advantage over somebody; a means of influencing.
- pull a few strings verb To cause an event or events to occur, especially in someone's benefit or favour; to make something happen.
- pull apart verb To investigate rigorously the basis of (an idea or theory).
- pull out verb To withdraw; especially of military forces; to retreat.
- pull punches verb To act with reserve; especially, to word something delicately to avoid giving offense or inciting anger.
- pull up stumps verb To cease doing something, at least for the day.
- pulp noun A magazine or book containing lurid subject matter and characteristically printed on rough, unfinished paper.
- pulpy adj Having the characteristics of pulp fiction; thus, having a garish focus on sex and violence.
- pulsate verb To pulse, to be full of life, energy: to bustle, thrive, flourish.
- pulse verb To emit or impel (something) in pulses or waves.
- pulverate verb To crush or subdue; to overwhelm.
- pulverise verb To defeat soundly, thrash.
- pump up verb To excite a person or group to a frenzy.
- punchbag noun A person serving as an object of abuse.
- punching bag noun A person serving as an object of abuse.
- punctum saliens noun Starting point, source; gist.
- pungent adj Stinging; acerbic.
- Punic adj Perfidious, treacherous, faithless.
- punish verb To treat harshly and unfairly.
- punishing adj Debilitating, harsh.
- punishment noun Any harsh treatment or experience; rough handling.
- punt verb To make a highly speculative investment or other commitment, or take a wild guess.
- puppet verb To control or manipulate like a puppet.
- puppet master noun A person who controls other people or events.
- puppeteer noun Someone who is manipulative and thus able to get people to do what they want or to make events develop in the way they want in a…
- purblind adj Of a person: lacking in discernment or understanding; dim-witted, unintelligent.
- purchase noun Any mechanical hold or advantage, applied to the raising or removing of heavy bodies, as by a lever, a tackle or capstan.
- purdah noun A curtain, especially one used in some Hindu or Muslim traditions to conceal women from the gaze of people, particularly men and strangers.
- pursestring noun Budgetary control; authority over capital outlay or investment decisions.
- pursestrings noun The means of restricting access to the financial resources.
- purveyor noun A person or group that promotes or spreads an idea, a viewpoint, etc.
- push noun A force that impels or pressures one to act.
- push around verb To treat contemptuously and unfairly; to bully
- push away verb To reject intimacy; to reject friendship or romance; to refuse to accept or think about (something unpleasant).
- push through verb To force (legislation or a plan) to be passed or agreed to or a decision to be reached.
- pushback noun A reversal or reduction.
- put one's foot in it verb To put one's foot in one's mouth.
- put oneself in someone's shoes verb To try to look at a situation from a different point of view; as if one were the other person; to empathise.
- put someone out of their misery verb To end or destroy something for the good of the individuals involved in it.
- put someone through their paces verb To test several or all functions or training of a person, animal, machine, etc.
- put the boot in verb To kick someone when they are down.
- put to sleep verb To render dormant.
- put up a fight verb To protest or make a fuss, especially over a proposed course of action.
- put up the shutters verb To close, either at the end of the day or permanently.
- puzzle box noun Something that is puzzling; an enigma; (narratology, also attributive) a complex story that is gradually revealed, often driven by a…
- pygmy noun Any dwarfish person or thing; a disparaging term for a small person.
- pyrotechnics noun An impressive display.
- pyrotechnist noun One who demonstrates a brilliant display, as of rhetoric or wit, or of virtuosity in the performing arts.
- pyrotechny noun Impressive, dazzling or virtuosic display.
- pythonic adj Enormous; also, monstrous.
- pyx noun A small, usually round container used to hold the host (“consecrated bread or wafer of the Eucharist”), especially when bringing communion…
- quack noun Any similar charlatan or incompetent professional.
- quadrillion noun Any very large number, exceeding normal description.
- quadrillionaire noun An extremely wealthy person.
- quagmire noun A perilous, mixed up and troubled situation; a hopeless tangle.
- quake verb To be in a state of fear, shock, amazement, etc., such as might cause one to tremble.
- quantum leap noun An abrupt, extreme change.
- quantum tunnelling noun The movement or travel from one point or direction to another in a very quick, rapid, or effortless manner.
- quantumly adv Involving a massive increase, especially over a short time or seemingly at once; in one giant leap forwards.
- quarantine verb Synonym of isolate more generally.
- quarrel verb To argue fiercely; to contend; to squabble; to cease to be on friendly terms, to fall out.
- quarry verb To extract or slowly obtain by long, tedious searching.
- quarter noun A topic or area of endeavour.
- quarterback verb To lead a team or group; to be primarily responsible for some group project or activity.
- queen bee noun A stem cell.
- queen mother noun A woman, especially an older woman, with authority, preeminence, impressive presence, and/or a founding role in a specified area.
- question mark noun A state of doubt or uncertainty.
- quick-change artist noun Someone who rapidly changes their views, occupations, appearance, behavior, etc.; something that rapidly changes its form or function.
- quicken verb To give life to (someone or something never alive or once dead); to animate, to resurrect, to revive.
- quicksand noun Anything that metaphorically pulls one down or buries one; a treacherous, risky danger
- quietus noun Death.
- quill verb To write.
- quilt noun Something composed of a variety of stitched-together parts; a patchwork.
- quintillion noun Any very large number, exceeding normal description.
- quiver noun A ready storage location for figurative tools or weapons.
- quockerwodger noun A person whose actions are controlled by someone else; a puppet.
- rabbit hole noun A bizarre world, where everyday rules do not apply.
- rabid adj Very extreme, unreasonable, or fanatical in opinion; excessively zealous.
- race verb To erase (a record, text, etc.), originally by scraping; to rub out, to scratch out.
- rachitic adj In a precarious or weak condition; likely to break down or collapse; feeble, rickety.
- rack verb To stretch or strain; to harass, or oppress by extortion.
- racy adj Exciting to the mind by a strong or distinctive character of thought or language; peculiar and piquant; fresh and lively.
- radar noun A superior ability to detect something; an awareness, an intuition.
- radiant adj Beaming with vivacity and happiness.
- radio silence noun A period of time during which nothing is heard from a person or organization, especially when such communication would normally be expected.
- radioactive adj Dangerous and disgusting, particularly of people or ideas.