C Series Flashcards
Call a spade a
spade
Straight talking.
When discussing the options it is
best to call a spade a spade to
avoid confusion.
Call to mind
Recall, remember.
Your story called to mind
something that happened to me
several years ago
Calm before the
storm
A quiet period before a period of
great activity.
Cannot have
one’s cake and
eat it too
Cannot have things both ways.
Cannot make
head or tail out of
it (make neither
head nor tail of)
Cannot understand
Carpeted
Rebuked, told off
Carried away
Over excited.
Carry the can
Be blamed.
Carry the day
Succeed; to be successful; to
win.
Carry weight
To be influential.
Cat is out of the
bag
A secret revealed.
Catch 22
Refers to a situation where there
is no possible solution because
of conflicting conditions.
Caught red
handed
Caught in the act of doing
something wrong.
Chance one’s
arm
To take a risk
Cheek by jowl
Side by side; close together.
Chew the fat
Talk
Child’s play
Easy, something very easy to
do.
Chip off the old
block
Like his father; A son who
behaves or resembles his
father.
Chip on the
shoulder
Perceived grievance or sense of
inferiority.
Clapped out
Poor condition.
Clean as a
whistle
Very clean.
Clear off
Leave; Informal to go away.
Clear out
Collect and dispose of unwanted
things. Make space
Close to the
bone
Offensively honest.
Cloud nine
A state of great happiness.
Cold feet
Lack of courage or confidence.
Clutching at
straws
Depend on something that
cannot help
Cock and bull
story
A lie.
Cold blooded
Without emotion; deliberately
cruel.
Come to an end
Finish.
Come up to
scratch
Reach an acceptable standard
or quality.
Come around
To visit.
Agree
Regain consciousness
Come a cropper
Fail; fall
Come to blows
almost
Fight, physical violence.
Come to grief
The result of a disaster.
Come (brought)
to light
Become apparent
Come to pass
To take place; to happen.
Crocodile tears
Insincere display of grief (false
tears).
Crying for the
moon
To make impossible demands or
have expectations that cannot
be met.
Crying over spilt
milk
To regret something after it has
happened.
Cry wolf
Raise a false alarm or express
concerns without foundation.
Curry favour
Try to achieve favour
Cut a sorry figure
Make a poor impression.
Cut and run
To evade a difficult situation by
leaving suddenly.
Cut to the quick
To upset someone.
