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 46 of 57: from “smoke out” to “spill”.
- smoke out verb To expose (something or somebody).
- smokescreen noun Anything used metaphorically to conceal or distract.
- smolder verb To show signs of repressed anger or suppressed mental turmoil or other strong emotion, such as passion.
- smooth out verb To remove irregularities or imperfections from.
- smoothie noun A blending of different things, a mishmash
- smorgasbord noun An abundant and diverse collection of things.
- smother verb to perish, grow feeble, or decline, by suppression or concealment; be stifled; be suppressed or concealed.
- smouldering noun The act by which something smoulders; residual heat.
- smutty adj Obscene, indecent.
- snaffle noun Decorative wear that looks like a snaffle.
- snag noun A problem or difficulty with something.
- snake noun A person who acts deceitfully for personal or social gain; a treacherous person.
- snake pit noun Any institution (such as a school, prison, hospital, etc.) run in an inept or inhumane way, or full of hostile or treacherous people.
- snakelike adj Characteristic of or resembling a snake.
- snakes and ladders noun Any situation in which people or events go forward and backward, seemingly at random.
- snap at verb To seize an opportunity.
- snap back verb To answer sharply.
- snapper verb To fall into error; to make a mistake, and especially to stumble morally.
- snare verb To ensnare.
- snatch verb To take (a victory) at the last moment.
- snatch and run noun An unsophisticated method of committing robbery by grabbing someone's property and attempting to flee with it.
- sneap verb To check or abruptly reprove (someone); to chide, to rebuke, to reprimand.
- sniff out verb To detect (something hidden or invisible).
- sniff test noun An informal check of whether an idea or proposal is credible, ethical, etc., using one's common sense or sense of propriety.
- snifter noun A strong or severe wind.
- sniggle verb To ensnare.
- snow verb Of a thing: to fall like snow.
- snowball verb To rapidly grow out of proportion or control, from an initially smaller state.
- snowballing noun A situation which rapidly gets out of control.
- soak verb To overcharge or swindle out of a large amount of money.
- soak up verb To absorb or deflect a series of actions; to endure a behavior from someone.
- soap bubble noun Anything that is attractive but insubstantial.
- soapbox noun A platform or outlet, such as a media platform, that a person uses to express their opinions.
- soapen adj Made of, or carved out of soap
- soar verb To rise in thought, spirits, or imagination; to be exalted in mood.
- soaring adj assurgent, ascending
- sober adj Moderate; realistic; serious; not playful; not passionate; cool; self-controlled.
- social battery noun A notional battery representing one's energy for socializing, with the need to be periodically recharged.
- sodden adj Drunk; stupid as a result of drunkenness.
- Sodom and Gomorrah noun A city or place full of sin and vice.
- sodomise verb To cause great humiliation or harm to (someone or something); to cause great damage to (something, especially from behind).
- soft pedal verb To reduce the force or impact of (something); to damp, to mute; especially, to minimize the less desirable aspects of (something); to play…
- soil verb To stain or mar, as with infamy or disgrace; to tarnish; to sully.
- soiled adj Dirty, defiled, stained.
- solatium noun Intangible or emotional compensation.
- sold out adj Completely committed or dedicated to a cause, a team, a person, etc.; all in.
- solder noun Circumstances or emotions that strongly bond things or persons together, by analogy to solder that joins metals.
- soldier noun Someone who fights or toils well.
- soldier of fortune noun A person willing to work for or ally themself with any person or institution who will hire them.
- solipsism noun Self-absorption, an unawareness of the views, needs or desires of others; self-centeredness; egoism.
- solo run noun Action taken without consultation of colleagues or approval of superiors.
- somewhere else adv Distracted; in a daydream, (of the mind) unable to interact with events in the here and now
- somnambulatory adj Going through the motions.
- sooterkin noun An abortive scheme.
- sop noun Ellipsis of sop to Cerberus, something given or done to pacify or bribe.
- sophist noun A teacher who uses plausible but fallacious reasoning.
- sophisticate verb To alter and make impure (something) by mixing it with some foreign or inferior substance, especially with an intention to deceive; to…
- soporific noun Something boring or dull.
- soppy adj Overly sentimental, maudlin, schmaltzy.
- sorcerer noun A person whose skills or abilities appear almost magical.
- sortie noun An attack made by troops from a besieged position; a sally.
- soufflé verb To whirl around or beat violently.
- soundboard noun A sounding board.
- soup noun Any mixture or substance suggestive of soup consistency.
- soup up verb To embellish with many additions.
- south adv In an adverse direction or trend.
- sow verb To spread abroad; to propagate.
- sow one's wild oats verb To spread one's genes around by impregnating many females.
- space noun A field, area, or sphere of activity or endeavour.
- spadeloads noun A shedload (large amount).
- spadework noun Work done in preparation for something else.
- spaghetti noun Something confusing or intricate.
- spaghettilike adj Entangled or confused.
- spangle verb To fix spangles or sparkling objects to (something); to bespangle.
- spare tire noun Excess weight or fat accumulated near the waist.
- spare tyre noun A large paunch and rolls of fat around the waist.
- spark verb To trigger, kindle into activity (an argument, etc).
- spark plug noun Someone who is a driving force in new endeavours.
- sparkling adj Brilliant and vivacious.
- spatchcock verb Often followed by in or into: to interpolate or insert (something into another thing) awkwardly; to sandwich (something within another…
- spate noun A sudden increase or rush of something; a flood, an outburst, an outpouring.
- spatter verb To cover, or lie upon (something) by having been scattered, as if by splashing.
- spavin verb To impair or injure (someone or something).
- spavined adj Of a person or a thing: old, worn-out; also, obsolete.
- spawn verb To appear, or cause (something or someone) to appear, unexpectedly and seemingly out of nowhere.
- special sauce noun Synonym of secret sauce.
- specter noun A threatening mental image; an unpleasant prospect
- speed bump noun An obstacle or difficulty; roadblock; snag.
- speed of light noun A very rapid speed.
- spell verb To clarify; to explain in detail.
- spendthrift noun Anything that distributes its attributes profusely, without restraint.
- sphere noun The region in which something or someone is active; one's province, domain.
- sphere of influence noun A concept division over which a person, organization, etc. exerts control.
- sphinx noun A person who keeps their thoughts and intentions secret; an enigmatic or impassive person.
- spice noun Appeal, interest; an attribute that makes something appealing, interesting, or engaging.
- spiderweb noun Something that resembles a spider's web in being mesh-like, entrapping, or fragile.
- spidery adj Cramped or illegible; especially when spiky.
- spike verb To discard; to decide not to publish or make public.
- spiky adj Of a person or their nature: difficult to deal with; abrasive, hostile, unfriendly.
- spill verb To overflow or flow out, over or off something.