This page gathers the 4,686 dictionary entries of which at least one sense is labelled “Idiomatic” by Wiktionary. The definition shown is that sense; each word leads to its full entry. Page 27 of 47: from “milestone” to “Nixon in China”.
- milestone noun An important event in a person's life or career, in the history of a nation, in the life of some project, etc.
- milieu control noun tactics that control environment and human communication through the use of peer pressure and group language.
- milk can noun Synonym of milk churn.
- milk drinker noun Someone who lacks experience or courage.
- milk the clock verb To use as much time as one can in order to gain a benefit.
- milling machine noun A machine tool in which a rotating cutter is moved against the workpiece (or vice versa) in order to cut the latter to a desired shape.
- mince words verb To restrain oneself when speaking by withholding some comments or using euphemisms in order to be polite, tactful, etc.
- mind one's own business verb To concern oneself only with what is of interest to oneself and not interfere in the affairs of others.
- mind the store verb To take active responsibility for a group or process, especially within an organization.
- mind you adv Used to introduce a qualification or contrastive statement, especially when toning down or rectifying
- mind's ear noun The mental faculty or inner sense with which one produces or reproduces imagined or recalled sounds solely within the mind; the supposed…
- mind-numbing adj Excessively boring, tedious, or dull; repetitive; of an activity, etc., lacking any interest or variety that might serve as intellectual…
- miners' canary noun Any thing, especially an organism, whose demise or distress provides an early warning of danger.
- mines and minerals noun The legal title to geological resources in the subsurface of a piece of land, usually by reference to being in the same or separate…
- minor miracle noun An improbable, unexpected, or surprising achievement or other occurrence that is fortunate and agreeable.
- miss the memo verb To be unaware of the current state of affairs.
- missing stair noun A member of a community who is widely but privately known within that community for abusiveness or other harmful behavior that has not been…
- mission creep noun Gradual unplanned expansion of the objectives, scope, and/or cost of a project, especially a military mission.
- mistake windmills for giants verb To perceive ordinary, nonthreatening objects or situations as significant dangers or adversaries, often due to an overly romantic…
- mix it up verb To compete vigorously, to quarrel, or to fight physically.
- mix up verb To mix or blend thoroughly and completely.
- mixed bag noun Something tending to have both good and bad results or characteristics; something having a mixture of advantages and disadvantages.
- mixed herbs noun A common mix of different dried herbs for general culinary use, containing some or all of basil, sage, rosemary, marjoram, oregano, thyme…
- mixed message noun Any communication that is contradictory, inconsistent, or unclear, especially in its motive or intent; incongruence between somebody's…
- modest proposal noun An idea which is especially extreme, unorthodox or distasteful, often put forward in jest.
- moment of truth noun A deciding instant; the time when a test determines or makes it apparent whether something will succeed.
- Monday-morning quarterback noun Someone who criticizes with hindsight.
- money pit noun A possession or financial commitment, especially a building or vehicle, that creates substantial ongoing expenses, especially one whose…
- money's worth noun Satisfaction.
- monkey business noun Activity that is mischievous, stupid, or time-wasting.
- monkey up verb To bungle or mess up something.
- monkey wrench verb To introduce problems, to create unexpected trouble, to sabotage.
- monkey's paw noun A situation in which a wish or desire has been fulfilled, but at significant cost or with ironic, usually unfavourable consequences.
- Monopoly money noun Money that does not exist; referring to fraudulent record keeping.
- moonlight flit noun An act of secretly leaving premises without paying the rent, supposedly at night by the light of the Moon; hence, any act of escaping at…
- moral high ground noun A position or point of view which is ethically superior or more reputable, in comparison to others which are under consideration.
- moral low ground noun A position or point of view which is unethical or less reputable, in comparison to others which are under consideration.
- moral of the story noun The key lesson or message that an incident, situation or other happening conveys; a general takeaway point.
- morning person noun A person who wakes up, without difficulty, early each morning and is alert and active during the first part of the day.
- mother hen noun An outspoken and overprotective woman or person dealing with others' affairs; especially, an assertive matriarch.
- Mother Hubbard adj Empty.
- mother lode noun Any source of valuable or useful material.
- mother of all phrase Used before a plural noun to form a compound noun having the sense of: the greatest or largest of (its kind); the most epic example of (its…
- mother-hive noun a location similarly serving as the source of a group of people
- mouth breather noun A person who is boorish, stupid, or otherwise unattractive.
- mouth of a sailor noun The characteristic of regularly using vulgar language, especially strong profanities; a person having this characteristic.
- mouth the words verb To speak insincerely.
- move furniture verb To engage someone physically; to brawl.
- move on verb To continue; to proceed; to go on.
- move out verb To leave one's present location; to leave somewhere for another place.
- move the goalposts verb To alter the terms of an agreement or an agreed target, or the rules of a negotiation while it is ongoing, especially in an unfair way.
- move the yardsticks verb To make progress, as used in political and corporate venues to express proactive actions.
- movie jail noun A state of derailment of a career or limited opportunities to which a film industry professional is seemingly relegated, usually as a…
- much less conj Let alone; to say nothing of, not to mention.
- mud monkey noun Refers to a person or a builder using earth, mud, or clay as its main material.
- muddy up verb To confuse (an issue or situation); to obscure or obfuscate (an issue or situation).
- mugged by reality phrase Of a person, having experienced a sudden, harsh, confrontation with the truth or reality of a situation.
- murder will out proverb Secrets or hidden crimes will eventually be exposed or discovered; nothing that is secret can remain a secret forever.
- murderers' row noun A team with an exceptionally talented group of players, or that group of players.
- music to someone's ears noun A spoken expression or a sound which is pleasing; specifically, some good news, or welcome information or remarks.
- mutual admiration society noun A group of two or more people, in a workplace or other social environment, who routinely express considerable esteem and support for one…
- my bad intj My fault; mea culpa.
- my foot intj Indicates disapproval, disregard, disdain, disgust or disbelief.
- my word intj An expression of surprise.
- na-na na-na boo-boo phrase A taunt or putdown, typically used to indicate that the speaker believes they has beaten the listener in a competition or is better in some…
- nail biting adj That causes nervous anticipation or suspense.
- nail down verb to make something (e.g. a decision or plan) firm or certain
- name and shame verb To publish the name of (a person or organization that has committed some transgression) so as to single them out for individual blame and…
- Nantucket sleigh ride noun An instance of the dragging of a whaleboat across the surface of a body of water by a harpooned whale.
- nasty, brutish, and short adj Of a hypothetical state of human life, without a government or society, and marked by constant fear, violence, and insecurity.
- native soil noun The country or geographical region where one was born or which one considers to be one's true homeland.
- nature abhors a vacuum phrase Generating and maintaining a near-vacuum is challenging (requiring technical rigor) because ambient pressure tends to push matter…
- nearest and dearest noun One's closest and most intimate family members, friends, etc.
- necessary evil noun An unfavorable thing that must be done or accepted, especially because the available alternative courses of action or inaction would be…
- neck of the woods noun A local neighbourhood or region.
- need-to-know adj (of information) given to another only when necessary.
- needle drop noun A digital copy of a vinyl record
- neither fish nor fowl adj Not easily categorized; not rightly belonging or fitting well in a given group or situation; also, not having the advantages of the various…
- neither fish, flesh, nor good red herring adj Synonym of neither fish nor fowl (“not easily categorized; not rightly belonging or fitting well in a given group or situation; also, not…
- never mind verb Let alone; much less.
- never the twain shall meet phrase Used to emphasize that two subjects are so different that they cannot coexist or agree with each other.
- new normal noun A current prevailing situation which has emerged recently, that differs dramatically from the previous one and is expected to remain.
- new school noun A style, way of thinking, or method for accomplishing a task that is typical of the current era, as opposed to former eras.
- new wine in an old bottle noun A significant change introduced to an entrenched system or method.
- next level adj Significantly more advanced, better, or more extreme.
- nice guy noun An inoffensive adult male who desires romantic companionship but who is too bland and uninspiring to be attractive.
- nice guys finish last proverb People who are decent, friendly, and agreeable tend to be unsuccessful because they are outmaneuvered or overwhelmed by others who are not…
- nickel adj Synonym of cheap: Low price and/or low value.
- nickel and dime adj Small time; operating on a small scale; involving small amounts of money; petty or cheap.
- nigger rich adj Of a person, living ostentatiously; spending money recklessly, especially a limited supply of money.
- night out noun Spending the evening away from one's usual residence. The phrase typically implies going to a bar or restaurant, going to watch…
- night owl noun One who goes to bed late, or stays up late at night or in the early hours of the morning.
- night person noun A person whose preference or custom is to remain awake and active during the evening and early morning (night) hours, and who usually…
- Nikon choir noun A large group of photographers simultaneously capturing images of a celebrity, producing numerous photographic flashes along with an…
- nine times out of ten adv Very often, mostly, most of the time.
- ninth-inning adj Happening as late as possible, eleventh-hour.
- nip and tuck adj So evenly matched that the advantage shifts from one to the other, and the outcome is uncertain.
- nip at verb To sip a drink (usually alcoholic) in small amounts.
- nip in the bud verb To stop something at an early stage.
- Nixon in China phrase Suggesting the ability of a politician with an unassailable reputation among his or her supporters for representing and defending their…