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 36 of 47: from “say cheese” to “shift gears”.
- say cheese verb To smile for a photograph by saying the word "cheese" (the vowel of which, when pronounced as is usual in English, forces a somewhat…
- say goodbye verb To separate from someone or something.
- say it all verb To express the essential characteristics of a person, thing, or situation in a concise, well-crafted turn of phrase or in some other pithy…
- say no more phrase What has already been said conveys all the meaning and information needed to draw a conclusion concerning a matter which it would be…
- say one's prayers verb To prepare to be killed.
- say someone's prayers verb To prepare to kill.
- say the quiet part loud verb To willingly express a sentiment that is normally considered embarrassing or disreputable to hold; to reveal an ulterior motive.
- say when verb An imperative form used to request that the interlocutor indicate when one should stop doing something, esp. pouring a drink, because one…
- scalding hot adj Extremely hot.
- Schrödinger's douchebag noun A person who makes offensive or inflammatory remarks and characterizes these statements as either sincere or joking based on the reactions…
- score off verb To defeat (especially in an argument), get the better of, achieve a success over, gain an advantage or win points over, make a point to the…
- Scotch mist noun Something that is hard to find or does not exist.
- scrape someone off the ceiling verb Used to describe the response to someone who is either experiencing great pain, who is very frightened, or is very elated.
- scrape together verb To collect, assemble or gather small amounts (especially of money), from various sources, with some difficulty
- scratch an itch verb To satisfy a need or desire.
- scratch one's own itch verb To do something out of motivation to solve a personal problem; to take matters into one's own hands.
- scratch together verb To collect, assemble or gather small amounts (especially of money), from various sources, with some difficulty; to scrape together.
- scream bloody murder verb To scream loudly in fear, pain, etc.
- scream loudest verb To complain or speak up with more intensity than others, especially in relation to a trivial matter.
- screw off intj An expression of surprise or disbelief.
- screw you intj less offensive version of fuck you.
- screwed up adj Morally reprehensible; clearly and grossly objectionable.
- screwed, blued and tattooed adj Placed in a perplexing, very difficult situation, especially a situation in which one has been unjustly victimized.
- sea legs noun The ability, when walking aboard a ship, to anticipate the motion of the deck so as to walk steadily without losing balance.
- sea load noun The weight of the payload on a vessel.
- second banana noun A comedian who plays a secondary or supporting role, especially as straight man and traditionally in vaudeville or burlesque theatre.
- second childhood noun The period or state of cognitive decline of an elderly person, characterized by childlike judgment and behavior.
- second fiddle noun A sidekick or subordinate, or the role of such a person.
- second gear noun Mediocre, sluggish performance.
- second nature noun A mindset, skill, or type of behavior so ingrained through habit or practice that it seems natural, automatic, or without a basis in…
- second string adj Not as good; of a lower quality or condition.
- second-rate adj Of mediocre quality; not first-rate.
- see a man verb Used in place of a real explanation when excusing oneself for a short period of time, particularly (euphemistic) to use the toilet or…
- see a man about a dog verb Used in place of a real explanation when excusing oneself for a short period of time, particularly (euphemistic) to use the toilet or…
- see a man about a horse verb Used in place of a real explanation when excusing oneself for a short period of time, particularly to use a toilet.
- see daylight verb To reach an understanding of something previously obscure; to arrive at a solution to a problem.
- see past the end of one's nose verb To have insight into underlying facts or consequences; to possess common sense or a vision for the future.
- see red verb To become enraged, angry, or irritated.
- see stars verb To experience apparent flashing lights in one's field of vision, especially after receiving a blow to the head.
- see the forest for the trees verb To discern an overall pattern from a mass of detail; to see the big picture, or the broader, more general situation.
- see the light verb To undergo a spiritual conversion.
- see the light of day verb To appear; to be published or disseminated.
- see things verb To imagine that one sees things that are not actually present; to have visual hallucinations.
- see through verb To not be deceived by something that is false or misleading; to understand the hidden truth about someone or something.
- see you later phrase A phrase used at parting, and not necessarily implying that the person being addressed will be seen later by the speaker.
- seeing is believing proverb One needs to see something in order to believe it; visible facts cannot be denied.
- seize the day verb To enjoy the present and not worry about the future; to live for the moment.
- selen- prefix (containing) selenium
- self-contained adj Of a person, wrapped up in oneself; reserved.
- self-possession noun A confidence in one's own powers.
- sell dearly verb To make one's opponent pay a very high price to defeat or obtain (a person, unit, vehicle, or territory).
- sell down verb To betray a person; to conspire against someone for personal gain.
- sell ice to Eskimos verb To persuade people to go against their best interests or to accept something unnecessary or preposterous.
- sell one's birthright for a mess of pottage verb To make an unfavorable exchange, especially of something of great, but deferred value, for something of very low, but immediate value.
- sell the family silver verb To sell one's property (not necessarily heirlooms) in an attempt to avoid or escape financial difficulties.
- sell-by date noun An indication that something, or someone, is old and out of date.
- seller's market noun An excess of demand over supply, leading to abnormally high prices; a market condition favoring the seller.
- sellout noun An action in which principles are compromised for personal gain.
- send away verb To dismiss from one's presence.
- send someone packing verb To expel, eject, or dismiss someone; to send away, chase off, or force out; (from a job or employment position) to fire.
- send someone to the showers verb To remove a player from a particular team competition before the conclusion of the event, especially because that player's contribution on…
- send to the glue factory verb To kill, usually a horse.
- serve notice verb To fire; to terminate one's employment or formal association.
- serve someone right verb Of an unpleasant event, to happen to someone who is thought to deserve it.
- serve up verb To provide; deliver; inflict; impose.
- set a spell verb To sit down for a period of time, especially in the company of other people and in order to relax or to engage in casual conversation.
- set back verb To cost money.
- set down verb To write.
- set foot verb To enter
- set in one's ways adj Driven by habit; inclined or determined to continue according to one's custom or established preferences.
- set in stone adj Permanent; certain; firm.
- set of pipes noun Voice for singing.
- set off verb To leave; to set out; to begin a journey or trip.
- set one's cap at verb To choose a man as a potential husband (for a girl).
- set one's watch by someone verb To know the current time by observing a very punctual and reliable person going about their regular routine.
- set out one's stall verb To make publicly clear one's position with reference to a particular idea or philosophy, or what one can do.
- set the pace verb To establish a common goal by example.
- set the stage verb To prepare; to establish the basis or required conditions.
- set the Thames on fire verb To achieve something amazing but to a nearly-impossible degree; to do something which brings great public acclaim.
- set to work verb To begin working.
- set up shop verb To establish a business.
- settle in verb To get comfortable or established, as in a new place.
- sew buttons intj Used in response to someone asking "so?"
- sex machine noun Someone with considerable sexual prowess.
- sex pact noun An agreement about having sex with a particular frequency, or in a particular way regardless of circumstances.
- sex talk noun Flirtatious conversation, used as foreplay or for seduction.
- shacked up adj (of a couple) Sharing a house, but not married.
- shake verb To lose, evade, or get rid of (something).
- shake a leg verb To get busy; to get going; to be productive.
- shake out verb To result or transpire.
- shake up verb To upset or distress (a person).
- shape for verb To head out to a particular destination.
- shape up verb To improve; to correct one's bad habits or behavior.
- shape up or ship out verb To either improve one's behavior or else be required to leave; to either improve one's performance in an activity or else withdraw from…
- share and share alike noun For members of a group, equal portions of or equal access to tangible or intangible goods, entitlements, or obligations—i.e., each person's…
- shark bait noun One who is in a precarious or vulnerable position.
- sharp cookie noun One who is intelligent, bright, or sharp; especially, one who can identify attempts to deceive or mislead.
- shave down verb To reduce something in size or thickness by gradually removing thin layers or cutting it down closely.
- shed a tear verb To have a tear released, to cry (from sadness)
- shift gears verb To change pace or mode of operation.