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 28 of 47: from “no borax, no glue” to “on blast”.
- no borax, no glue phrase Denotes that the speaker is seeking or sharing a way to accomplish a difficult task that omits core ingredients or sidesteps the orthodox…
- no comment phrase An official refusal to relay any further information, used for example in response to a question by a newspaper reporter or police officer.
- no dice phrase An unacceptable alternative.
- no hard feelings phrase (I, etc.) hold no lingering anger or resentment toward (you, etc.); there's no bad blood between (us, etc.).
- no harm, no foul phrase Although technically a breach of some code or law may have occurred, there was no actual damage meriting punishment, apology or retribution.
- no joy noun A negative outcome; no success; a failure.
- no more adv No longer; not any more.
- no plan survives contact with the enemy phrase After a plan against an enemy is drafted, there will be unexpected elements from the opposition that will call for improvisation.
- no pressure phrase The situation at hand is rife with emotional pressure.
- no sooner than conj Used to indicate that the second action mentioned is as likely as, or is preferred to, the first action mentioned.
- no spring chicken noun Said of a person who is no longer particularly young.
- no strings attached phrase Without conditions or obligations; without a catch.
- no time noun A very short period of time.
- no two ways about it noun No other possible action, choice or option.
- no way intj Absolutely not; under no circumstances.
- no ways intj Synonym of no way (“absolutely not”).
- no-good ass noun A contemptible or undesirable person, especially a contemptible or undesirable boyfriend.
- no-hit wonder noun A recording artist who proves to be commercially successful, or maintains a long career, without having any hit songs at all.
- nodding acquaintance noun A casual or partial familiarity; a relationship which is not close or fully developed; an inexact understanding (of something).
- non-denial denial noun A statement which appears to deny that something is true, but which, when examined carefully, can be seen to have used diversion, bluster…
- non-starter noun An idea or argument that cannot be sensibly debated.
- none of someone's business noun A matter (especially a private or personal one) that someone is not entitled to be involved in or informed about.
- north forty noun Farms, ranches, or agricultural land collectively.
- nose verb To snoop.
- nose around verb To snoop around; to discreetly or covertly search or examine a place or situation.
- nose out of joint noun An emotional state where someone is in a bad mood because they have been offended by or taken exception (objected) to some action, usually…
- nose to the grindstone noun Used to form idioms meaning "to force someone to work hard or to focus intensely upon their work".
- nose-pick verb To pick one's nose.
- not a minute too soon adv at the last possible moment; just in time
- not a pretty sight noun Something disappointing, disquieting, disreputable, or otherwise unworthy of admiration.
- not at all intj A conventional reply to an expression of gratitude.
- not invented here adj Invented outside one's own organization (referring to the knee-jerk dismissal of products, technologies, etc. that come from third parties).
- not just a pretty face noun Something that is more useful, versatile, or intrinsically valuable than might be assumed.
- not so fast phrase Used to tell someone to cease doing something or to call into question what someone has said.
- not to mention conj An apophasis used by a speaker to introduce, despite claiming not to address, a given point of discussion.
- not to put too fine a point on it phrase Used to apologize for a possibly impolite statement one is making; to put it bluntly; to express it in plain terms.
- not touch with a barge pole verb To avoid something at all costs; to refuse to associate with something; (signifies a strong aversion).
- not touch with a ten-foot pole verb To avoid something at all costs; to refuse to associate with something; signifies a strong aversion.
- not want to do that verb To be in a state of doing or being about to do something that one is likely to regret; usually unknowingly or forgetfully.
- not worth a dime adj Worthless or nearly so: lacking in value.
- nothing doing intj Absolutely not; definitely no.
- now or never adv At this sole opportunity or time, or not at all.
- now you're cooking phrase Used to praise someone for adopting a more effective or suitable method or approach, or to signal that progress is being made.
- now, more than ever phrase Used to emphasize the increased urgency or importance of something in the present moment compared to any time in the past.
- nuclear option noun In resolving a problem, the possible course of action that is considered the most extreme because of its collateral consequences.
- nuke the fridge verb To suddenly include a strange or illogical event, often leading to radical and often disappointing changes to the narrative of the film.
- number games noun A numbers game: the use of inappropriate statistics (numbers) to reflect a desired result (usually misleading).
- number one adj First; foremost; best, often used after its headword.
- Nuremberg defense noun An explanation offered as an excuse for behaving in a criminal or wrongful manner, claiming that one acted in this way because one was…
- nut-cutting time noun Time to exert maximum effort, for example, due to an approaching deadline or a looming competitive situation.
- nuts to butts adv Closely one behind the other.
- ob- prefix Against; facing; a combining prefix found in verbs of Latin origin.
- odd and curious adj On the Isle of Man, the common or general man.
- odd duck noun An unusual person, especially one with an idiosyncratic personality or peculiar behavioral characteristics.
- odds and sods noun Miscellaneous items.
- of a piece prep_phrase Of the same kind.
- of age prep_phrase Having existed for a certain period of time; used in referring to a person's age.
- of all things prep_phrase Especially; more than other things.
- of an phrase Indicates a more or less habitual activity during the given part of the day.
- of the first water prep_phrase Of a diamond or other gemstone, of the highest quality or excellence.
- off balance prep_phrase surprised; perplexed
- off board prep_phrase Not on or in a means of transportation.
- off one's box prep_phrase Stoned or intoxicated.
- off one's feed prep_phrase Rather unwell, especially with a reduced or altered appetite; somewhat disoriented or disconcerted.
- off one's game prep_phrase Performing in any activity below one's usual level; behaving in an irregular, inept, or awkward manner; feeling unwell.
- off the cuff adj Extemporaneous; without prior preparation; spontaneous; impromptu.
- off the deep end adj Crazy, erratic, or irrational.
- off the grid adv In or into a clandestine or isolated situation or place, especially one in which public communication is curtailed.
- off the hook adj Relieved of a duty, burden, responsibility, or pressure.
- off the rails prep_phrase In an abnormal manner, especially in a manner that causes damage or malfunctioning.
- off the reservation prep_phrase Violating rules or decorum; out of bounds.
- off the top of one's head prep_phrase In an extemporaneous manner; without careful thought, preparation, or investigation.
- off the wagon prep_phrase No longer maintaining a program of self-improvement or abstinence from an undesirable habit, especially drinking alcohol.
- off to the races prep_phrase In or into a process of energetic engagement in some activity; in or into a phase of conspicuously increasing satisfaction or success.
- off-centre adj Eccentric, unbalanced, slightly wrong.
- off-color adj Dirty, vulgar or obscene, especially in a way that is unpleasant.
- off-the-wall adj Wildly unconventional; bizarre; absurd.
- offer one can't refuse noun An offer from one side in a transaction with terms so attractive that the other side is almost guaranteed to accept.
- offer up verb To give (thanks, praise) to God.
- oh well intj An expression of mild disappointment or resignation: too bad; it's a pity; what can you do; it is what it is.
- oil verb To say in an unctuous manner.
- oil burner noun A device whose operation causes apparent combustion of lubricating oil.
- oil trash noun An uncultured, rowdy roughneck employed in the petroleum industry, especially a "white trash" person if used negatively.
- old boy network noun A presumed unacknowledged system of association between childhood friends (especially those at school or university together), used for…
- old enough to vote adj Old; decrepit (said especially of an inanimate object).
- old flame noun A previous boyfriend or girlfriend; a former romantic or sexual partner, especially one for whom one still has romantic feelings.
- old hat noun Something regarded as very familiar and unoriginal, hackneyed, or out of date.
- old head on young shoulders noun Alternative form of good head on one's shoulders.
- old money noun Families that have been wealthy for generations or members of such families.
- old school noun Preceded by the: a group of people characterized by being conservative or traditional; also, a method for accomplishing a task, a style, or…
- old-fashioned look noun A glance of disdain or disapproval.
- on a dime prep_phrase Within a very short distance; especially, with agile precision in a very confined space and suddenly.
- on a first-name basis adv Having enough familiarity with another person to call them by their first name, as opposed to their surname.
- on a tear prep_phrase Engaged in a continuous, fast-paced procession of actions or events, especially with favorable results.
- on account of prep Because of, due to, owing to.
- on acid prep_phrase Exaggerated, bizarre or unpredictable.
- on all fours phrase On one's hands and knees.
- on and off adv Intermittently.
- on average prep_phrase Usually, typically; as a rule; as often as not.
- on blast prep_phrase In an embarrassing position from having been publicly denounced or exposed, especially from being shamed on social media.