P Idioms
Idioms Index | A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
pad the bill
- add false expenses
He always pads the bill when he goes on a business trip.pain in the neck
- an annoying thing or person, bothersome
Dealing with my neighbor is always a pain in the neck.paint oneself into a corner
- get oneself into a bad situation that is difficult or impossible to get out of
He has painted himself into a corner now that he has begun to fight with his supervisor.paint the town red
- go out and party and have a good time
We decided to go out and paint the town red after we all passed our exams.palm off
- deceive someone by a trick or a lie, sell or give by tricking
He palmed off his old television set as one that was new and reliable.pan out
- end or finish favorably, work out well
I hope that your plans to go back to school pan out well.par for the course
- just what was expected, nothing unusual
That was par for the course. He always comes late when there is a lot of work to do.part and parcel
- a necessary or important part, something necessary to a larger thing
The house that he bought was part and parcel of a much larger piece of land.pass away
- die
His father passed away when he was about 96 years old.pass muster
- pass a test or checkup, be good enough
I wrote some of the instructions of the computer manual and will send them to my partner to see if they pass muster.pass off
- sell or give something by false claims, offer something as genuine
The man passed off the diamond watch as a real one and received much more money than it was worthpass off
- claim to be someone one is not, pretend to be someone else
He passed himself off as a reporter and was able to get into the concert.pass on
- give away something that you don't use anymore
She always passes on her old clothes to her younger sister.pass on
- die
Her grandmother passed on when she was 92 years old.pass out
- faint
Three teenage girls passed out at the rock concert.pass the buck
- shift responsibility to others
He always tries to pass the buck if someone tries to criticize his work.pat on the back
- praise
He gave me a pat on the back after I finished the project.patch up
- fix
I have been trying to patch up our differences for many months now.pay attention
- look at or listen to with full attention
He never pays attention to what his supervisor tells him.pay dirt
- dirt in which much gold is found, a valuable discovery
The company hit pay dirt when they invented the new Internet equipment.pay off
- pay in full and be free from a debt, yield good results (the risk paid off)
She finally paid off her car so she has lots of extra money to spend.pay-off
- results of one's work, a bribe
He expects to get a big pay-off from his education when he finally begins to look for a job.pay through the nose
- pay a lot of money for something
My uncle always pays through the nose when he buys a new car.pecking order
- the way people are ranked in relation to each other
The pecking order in his company is very difficult to understand for most of the workers.peeping Tom
- someone who looks in people's windows
The police arrested a peeping Tom near our apartment building last week.penny for one's thoughts
- Please tell me what you are thinking about.
"A penny for your thoughts," she said as she saw her boyfriend looking out of the window.penny-wise and pound-foolish
- wise or careful in small things to the costly neglect of important things
He is penny-wise and pound-foolish and is always wasting his money on things that he doesn't need.people who live in glass houses should not throw stones
- do not complain about other people if you are as bad as they are
You should not criticize other people so much. Remember, people who live in glass houses should not throw stones.pep talk
- a speech to encourage people to try harder and not give up
The coach gave his team a pep talk after they lost three games last month.perk up
- become energetic or happy after being sad or tired
My sister began to perk up after she had a chance to rest for awhile.peter out
- die down gradually, grow less strong
The large crowd from the football game has begun to peter out and the streets around the stadium are becoming quiet now.pick-me-up
- food or a drink one takes when one feels tired or weak
I stopped at the restaurant on my way home from work for a quick pick-me-up.pick a quarrel
- start a quarrel with someone on purpose
I don't like her because she is always trying to pick a quarrel with others.pick on
- do or say bad things to someone
He always picked on his sister when they were children.pick out
- choose or select
I tried to pick out a suitable necktie for my father.pick someone's brains
- extract ideas or information from someone for one's own use
They are always picking his brains to get new ideas for their business.pick up
- get, receive
I picked up my dry cleaning after I finished work yesterday.pick up
- take on passengers, receive
The bus picked us up at about six o'clock in the morning.pick up
- make neat and tidy
He decided to pick up his room before his friend came to visit.pick up
- get without trying, accidentally
He picked up a lot of French when he lived in France for a year.pick up
- catch or receive the sound of a radio etc.
We couldn't pick up the radio station when we were travelling through the mountains.pick up
- take to the police station, arrest someone
The police picked up the man because they thought he had been drinking.pick up
- pick up something that has fallen on the floor etc.
Could you please pick up my pen from the floor.pick up
- start again after interruption, go on
It was getting late so we decided to stop work for the evening and pick up where we left off the next day..pick up a trail/scent
- recognize the trail of a hunted person or animal
The tracking dogs were able to pick up the trail of the criminal easily.pick up speed
- increase the speed of
The car picked up speed as it began to go down the hill.pick up the tab
- pay the bill for someone else
He picked up the tab for the dinner at the restaurant.piece of cake
- easy
That job was a piece of cake. It was the easiest thing I ever did.piggyback
- sitting or being carried on the back and shoulders
The man was carrying his child around the room piggyback style.piggy bank
- a small bank (sometimes in the shape of a pig) for saving coins
Her daughter put all of her spare money into her piggy bank.pig in a poke
- something accepted or bought without looking at it carefully
The stereo system he bought was a pig in a poke. He has no idea if it will work well.pile up
- accumulate, put things on top of each other
He piled up the magazines on top of the small table.pinch pennies
- be careful with money, be thrifty
He has been pinching pennies for months in order to save money for his vacation.pin down
- keep someone from moving, make someone stay in a place or position
The wrestler won the match after he pinned his opponent down for almost a minute.pin down
- make someone tell the truth or make a commitment
I couldn't pin him down as to exactly when he would pay back the money that he owed me.pink slip
- dismissal notice from a job
He received his pink slip yesterday and no longer has a job.pipe dream
- an unrealistic plan
He always has a lot of pipe dreams about what he wants to do in the future.pipe up
- speak louder
We asked the speaker to pipe up so that we could hear him.pip-squeak
- a small, unimportant person
He called his friend a pip-squeak which made him very angry.piss off
- bother or annoy someone, make someone angry
My supervisor pissed me off when he asked me to work late again last night.pitch a tent
- put up a tent
We pitched the tent in a nice field beside a stream.pitch in
- give help or money for something
They pitched in and helped him finish the job quickly.play ball with someone
- cooperate fairly with someone
If you agree to play ball with the new manager things should go well for you.play by ear
- play a musical instrument by remembering the tune and not by reading the music
Although she can't read music at all she can play by ear and is a great musician.play cat and mouse with someone
- tease or fool someone by pretending to let him go free and then catching him again
The boxer was playing cat and mouse with his opponent although he could have won easily.play down
- give less emphasis or make something seem less important
The politician played down the polls that showed that he was becoming less popular.played out
- tired out, worn out, exhausted
I was totally played out last night so I went to bed early.play footsie
- touch the feet of a member of the opposite sex under the table while flirting
The couple in the restaurant were playing footsie under the table during their dinner.play footsie
- engage in any kind of collaboration or flirtation especially in a political situation
The opposition party was playing footsie with the government in order to have their opinions heard.play (someone) for something
- treat someone as something, act toward someone as something
He was trying to play me for a fool but I could easily see what he was trying to do.play hooky
- stay away from school or work without permission
When he was a student he often played hooky and didn't go to school.play into someone's hands
- do something that gives someone else an advantage
If you walk out of the meeting in anger you will only be playing into his hands.play it by ear
- decide on something according to the situation
Let's play it by ear and decide what to do after we see the movie.play off
- match opposing persons, forces or interests for one's own gain
Nobody likes the supervisor because he is always trying to play off one group of workers against another.play off
- settle a score between two teams or contestants by more play
We went to the game last night as our team had to play off against the other team.play on/upon (something)
- cause an effect on, influence
They played on his feelings of loneliness to get him to come and buy them dinner every night.play on words
- a humorous use of a word to suggest a different meaning
There are many cases of using a play on words in the newspaper headlines.play one's cards right
- take advantage of your opportunities
If you play your cards right you will probably get a promotion soon.play second fiddle to someone
- be second in importance to someone
He has been playing second fiddle to his boss for years and has finally decided to quit.play the field
- date many different people, avoid steady dates with the same person
After my sister stopped seeing her boyfriend she decided to play the field until she met someone nice.play up
- call attention to, emphasize
During the job interview he played up his experience as an experienced computer operator.play up to someone
- flatter or please someone to try and gain some advantage
He is always playing up to his boss so he can leave work early.play with fire
- invite danger or trouble
You are playing with fire if you get involved with those people.plow into
- attack vigorously
We plowed into the food as soon as the waiter brought it to our table.plow into
- crash into with force
The truck plowed into the group of people waiting for the bus.pluck up
- make oneself have courage
He plucked up his courage and went and asked the woman for a date.point out
- explain, call attention to
She was very kind when she pointed out the mistakes that I had made.pointed remark
- a remark clearly aimed at a particular person or thing
He made a pointed remark during the meeting that was clearly designed to get my attention.poke fun at
- joke about, laugh at, tease
She is always poking fun at the way her husband plays golf.polish off
- finish completely, finish doing something quickly
We polished off the work early and went to the beach for the day.polish the apple
- try to win favor by flattering someone
The teacher doesn't like students who are always trying to polish the apple with her.pony up
- pay
It is time to pony up and pay for the equipment that he bought.pooped out
- worn out, exhausted
We spent all day painting the house and were pooped out by the time we got home.pop the question
- ask someone to marry you
He finally popped the question to her after they had been going out together for two years.pop up
- appear suddenly or unexpectedly
I hadn't seen my friend for almost a year but suddenly he popped up for a visit last week.pot calling the kettle black
- a person who is criticizing someone else is as guilty as the person he criticizes
I was joking to her about why she was afraid to look for another job but she said it was like the pot calling the kettle black as I also never tried to change jobs.pound the pavement
- look for a job
He has been pounding the pavement for a few months now but still has not found a job.pour it on thick
- flatter greatly
He has been pouring it on thick but she still doesn't like him.pour oil on troubled waters
- calm down a quarrel, say something to lessen anger and bring peace to a situation
They tried to pour oil on troubled waters after they noticed the argument among the students.pour out
- tell everything about something
She poured out her heart to her mother when she returned home from work.pour out
- come out in great number or quantity, stream out
After the football game thousands of fans poured out of the stadium.press (push) one's luck
- depend too much on luck, expect to continue to be lucky
He is pushing his luck if he thinks that he will continue to make a lot of money on the stock market.pressed for time
- have barely enough time
He was pressed for time so I didn't have a chance to speak to him.prey on (upon)
- catch for food, kill and eat
Cats usually prey on mice and small birds if they can catch them.prey on (upon)
- cheat, rob
Criminals usually prey on people who are living in poor areas.promise the moon
- mentally alert, ready to do something
Before the elections the politicians were promising everyone the moon but when they were elected they began to talk differently.psyched up
- mentally alert, ready to do something
The team was psyched up for the game but they lost anyway.psych out
- find out the real motives of (someone)
I tried to psych out the salesman to see what he really wanted to sell the car for.pull a fast one
- cheat, deceive
They pulled a fast one on him when they sold him the used car.pull (something) off
- accomplish something remarkable
He really is lucky in being able to pull off the new business merger with no problems.pull one's socks up
- make a greater effort
You had better begin to pull your socks up or you will not be able to continue working here.pull one's weight
- do one's fair share of the work
If everyone pulls their weight we can quickly finish and go home.pull someone's leg
- trick or fool someone playfully
Her grandfather is always pulling her leg when he comes to visit.pull out of a hat
- get as if by magic, invent, imagine
I didn't think that he was going to be able to find a dictionary but he suddenly pulled one out of a hat and gave it to me.pull over
- drive to the side of the road and stop
The police pulled over the man because he had been drinking.pull rank
- assert one's superior position or authority on a person of lower rank in order to get a privilege or favor
The navy officer pulled rank on the other officers and was able to stay in the best hotel during the trip.pull strings
- secretly use influence and power
He was able to pull some strings and get his son a job for the summer.pull the plug
- expose someone's secret activities
The company decided to pull the plug on the salesman and tell everyone about his illegal sales methods.pull the plug
- quit a job
He suddenly decided to pull the plug and is no longer here.pull the rug out from under
- spoil someone's plans, withdraw support
He pulled the rug out from under our plans to open a branch office in New York.pull the wool over someone's eyes
- deceive or fool someone
Don't let him pull the wool over your eyes with his excuses.pull through
- recover from an illness or misfortune
It looked like he was going to die from cancer but in the end he pulled through and is now doing very well.pull up stakes
- move to another location
They decided to pull up stakes and move to London.push (someone) around
- make someone do what you want
He is always pushing around his salesmen and saleswomen.push off
- start, leave
The boat pushed off from the dock and started out to sea.push the panic button
- become very frightened or excited at a time of danger or worry
At first he thought that his wallet had been stolen but before he pushed the panic button and told everyone he looked around again and found it.put a damper on
- discourage, spoil a person's fun
The death of the president put a damper on the anniversary celebrations.put across
- explain clearly, make oneself understood
He spends a lot of effort trying to put across clearly what he wants to say.put all one's eggs in one basket
- place all one's efforts, interests or hopes in a single person or thing
You should not put all your eggs in one basket and invest all of your money in the stock market.put away
- put an animal to death, kill
We had to have our dog put away because he tried to bite the small girl next door.put down
- stop by force, crush
The government easily put down the rebellion by the militants.put down
- write a record of something, write down
He was asked by his company to put down his request for a transfer in writing.put down
- criticize, make someone look bad
He is always putting down his girlfriend in front of his friends.put in
- plant flowers
We decided to put in some roses in our garden last year.put in
- stop at a port on a journey by water
The ship put in at several ports during the cruise.put in
- add to what has already been said
Suddenly he put in that he was tired and wanted to go home.put in for something
- apply for something
I put in for a transfer to another department of our company but it was refused.put in (time)
- spend time
He has put in a lot of time fixing up his house and now it looks beautiful.put in one's two cents
- give one's opinion
She always wants to put in her two cents when she has a chance.put off
- postpone
The game was put off because of the rain.put off
- discourage, cause a bad feeling
He put me off with his complaints about the hotel room that I had reserved for him.put on
- dress in and wear clothes
Please put on your jacket before you go out.put on
- fool or joke with someone, tease, pretend
I think that he is putting me on. I don't believe that he will move to Rome.put on
- produce or arrange a play etc.
My sister helped to put on the school play.put on one's thinking cap
- think hard and long about something
I will put on my thinking cap and try and decide what to do about finding a new job.put on the map
- make a place well known
The Woodstock rock concert really put the town of Woodstock on the map.put on weight
- gain weight
He has put on a lot of weight since he stopped going to the gym.put one's cards on the table
- be frank, tell everything
I put my cards on the table and told him everything about the plans for next year.put one's finger on something
- locate precisely, remember exactly
I was unable to put my finger on the exact date of his arrival.put one's foot down
- object strongly, take firm action
He put his foot down and didn't allow any more money to be spent on company entertainment.put one's foot in one's mouth
- say something that is the wrong thing to say in a situation
He really put his foot in his mouth when he told her about the surprise party.put one's own house in order
- organize one's own private affairs
He should put his own house in order before he tells others what to do.put our heads together
- confer, discuss
We put our heads together and finally thought of a new name for the football team.put out
- make a flame or light stop burning, extinguish
The man put out his cigarette on the theater carpet.put out
- produce, make
The company decided to put out a newsletter to give news to the employees.(be) put out
- be inconvenienced or irritated
She was a little put out that you didn't call her when you were in town.put (someone) out
- inconvenience, bother,
She shouldn't put herself out so much when people come and visit her.put someone in his or her place
- scold someone for rude or bad behavior
She was very angry and really put him in his place over the rude remark.put someone in the picture
- tell someone what the situation is
They have finally decided to put me in the picture about the new work procedures.put (something or someone) out of one's head (mind)
- try not to think about something
He has been trying to put his girlfriend out of his mind since they decided to stop seeing each other.put (something) over on someone
- fool, trick
He was trying to put something over on his boss when he said that he was sick and couldn't come to work.put (something) past someone (negative)
- be surprised by what someone does
I wouldn't put it past him to try and sell the main part of the company and leave the rest.put the bite on someone
- ask for money or favors
He is always trying to put the bite on his friends to collect money for charity.put the cart before the horse
- do things in the wrong order
I think that he is putting the cart before the horse by talking about fixing up the house before he even buys it.put the screws to someone
- try to force someone to do or say what you want
The police were putting the screws to the criminal to try and get some information.put through the wringer
- cause a lot of stress
He really put his wife through the wringer when he asked her for a divorce.put two and two together
- understand or figure something out after learning the facts
I finally put two and two together and realized that she was his boyfriend.put up
- provide money or something needed
The telephone company put up most of the money for the new stadium.put up a good fight
- try hard
They put up a good fight but were unable to win the tournament.put up a good front
- pretend to be happy, fool people about one's status
He always puts up a good front but actually he is very unhappy.put up at a hotel etc.
- stay at a hotel or someone's home
We decided to put up at a hotel and continue our trip the next day.put up or shut up
- prove something or stop saying it, bet money on what one says or stop saying it
The politician was forced to put up or shut up over the plans to build a new convention center.put up to
- persuade or get someone to do something
His friend put him up to cheating on the examination.put up with
- patiently accept, endure
He makes a great effort to put up with his wife's complaints.put words in one's mouth
- say something for someone else
Her husband is always putting words in her mouth which makes her a little angry.
