P Series Flashcards
Part and parcel
A necessary part of an
experience which cannot be
avoided.
Parting shot
Retaliation or retort made upon
departure or at the end of an
argument.
Pass with flying
colours
To comfortably achieve an
objective.
Pat on the back
Congratulation.
Payment in kind
Payment with something instead
of cash.
Pay on the nail
Make a prompt cash payment.
Pay through the
nose
Pay an exorbitant price.
Pear shaped
Said of something going wrong.
Pearls before
swine (Do not
cast)
Don’t waste something valuable
by giving it to someone who
does not appreciate it.
Pegged out
To stop working.
Penny dropped
Understanding something
eventually.
A penny saved is a penny earned
A saying meaning that it is as
effective to use money wisely as
it is to earn more.
Pie in the sky
An empty wish or promise.
Piece of cake
Easy
Make a pig’s ear
out of it
Do something badly.
Pigeon hole
Classify.
Pillar to post
Moving around in a meaningless
way.
Pin money
Money for incidental purpose.
Piping hot
Very hot, usually referring to
food.
Play fast and
loose
To treat something with little
care.
Play it by ear
Handle a situation in an
impromptu manner.
Play one’s trump
card
To use one’s most effective
strategy.
Play the game
Be fair
Play second
fiddle
To be in a subordinate position
to someone.
Play with fire
Do something risky.
Plum job (role)
A very good job.
Point blank
range
Very close.
Possession is nine tenths of the law
Ownership is easier to maintain
if one has possession of
something, and more difficult to
enforce if one does not.
Power dressing
Style of dressing intended to
give the impression of
assertiveness and competence.
Pot calling the kettle black.
Refers to a person criticising
another person for something
that the first person does also.
Pot luck
Take a chance.
Pot shot
A shot taken at an easy target.
Pour petrol (fuel) on a fire
Worsen an already bad
situation.
Pound of flesh
Something owed where
repayment is ruthlessly
demanded in full.
Used to signify excessive
demands
Pull oneself
together
Compose oneself; gather one’s
wits.
Pull out all the
stops
Make every possible effort.
Pull together
Work as a team.
Pull up short
Stop suddenly.
Pull the wool
over your eyes
To deceive.
Pull through
Recover.
Pull up one’s
socks
Make an effort
Pull your finger
out
Hurry up get to it.
Pulling a leg
Tricking someone.
Push the boat
out
To spend generously.
Put a sock in it
Be quiet.
Put one’s best
foot forward
Make one’s best effort.
Put the cart
before the horse.
Start at the wrong end; do things
in the wrong order.
Put the dampers
on something
Make something less enjoyable
or create depression
Putting on airs
and graces
Trying to give an impression that
you are better than you are or
belong to a higher social class.
Put one’s foot in
it.
Say something that is
inadvertently offensive.
Putting two and
two together.
Understanding something from
hints or vague information.
