Idioms Translator

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Base language: EN

Letter: n

Total idioms: 9858 - currently selected: 240 (50 per page)

Na-na na-na boo-boo

Details:
na-na na-na boo-boo
1. (North America, idiomatic, colloquial, childish, pejorative, taunt, often humorous) [c. mid 20th century?] A taunt or putdown, typically used to indicate that the speaker believes he or she has beaten the listener in a competition or is better in some other way or in a general sense; or an expression of satisfaction that the listener has received some supposedly deserved min


Examples:





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Na-na na-na na-na

Details:
na-na na-na na-na
1. (idiomatic, colloquial, childish) Alternative form of na-na na-na boo-boo.


Examples:





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Naff off

Details:
naff off
1. (idiomatic, UK) A mild version of fuck off


Examples:





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Nail biter

Details:
nail biter (plural nail biters)
1. one who bites or chews his or her fingernails
2. (idiomatic) a nervous or uncomfortable situation
? It was a real nail biter waiting for the test results.
3. An engaging or exciting cliffhanger.


Examples:





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Nail down

Details:
nail down (third-person singular simple present nails down, present participle nailing down, simple past and past participle nailed down)
1. (transitive) to attach with nails
? Nail down the shelf, then paint it.
2. (idiomatic, transitive) to make something (e.g. a decision or plan) firm or certain
? They haven't nailed down their vacatio


Examples:





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Naked ape

Details:
naked ape (plural naked apes)
1. (idiomatic, often humorous) A human being.


Examples:





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Naked as a jaybird

Details:
naked as a jaybird
1. (simile, colloquial) Stark naked; nude; especially, naked in a public setting and without embarrassment
? Never the prude, Eliza walked out into the dorm common room naked as a jaybird and grabbed her forgotten towel.


Examples:





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Name and shame

Details:
name and shame
1. (idiomatic, transitive) To publish the name of (a person or organization that has committed some transgression) so as to single them out for individual blame and censure.


Examples:





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Name names

Details:
name names
1. (idiomatic) To identify specific people, especially people involved in confidential activity, misdeeds, or crimes.


Examples:





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Name of the game

Details:
name of the game (uncountable)
1. (idiomatic, almost always preceded by the) The essential element (needed to reach the principal goal or objective); the overall purpose.
? In the computer business, speed is the name of the game.


Examples:





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Name written on it

Details:
If something has someone's name (written) on it, it is intended for that person or it is ideally suited to them.


Examples:
That dress would be perfect for you - it's got your name on it!




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Nantucket sleigh ride

Details:
Nantucket sleigh ride (plural Nantucket sleigh rides)
1. (idiomatic) An obsolete and dangerous method of whale hunting in which a small boat manned by rowers and a harpooner, or a series of small boats tied together, would be attached to a whale by means of a harpoon and would then be towed by the creature at high speed across the water's surface, until the whale eventually became exhausted


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Narrow down

Details:
narrow down
1. (idiomatic) Make more specific.
? All the food on the menu looked delicious, so I tried to narrow down my choices to only healthy foods.


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Nary a

Details:
nary a
1. (idiomatic) Not any; no.
? There is nary a sysop when you want one.


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Native soil

Details:
native soil (plural native soils)
1. (idiomatic, as pertaining to persons) The country or geographical region where one was born or which one considers to be one's true homeland.
2. (idiomatic, as pertaining to animals, plants, things, ideas, etc.) Source, place of origin, principal location, or natural habitat.


Examples:





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Near post

Details:
near post (plural near posts)
1. (soccer, idiomatic) The goalpost nearest from where a cross is made.


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Near the knuckle

Details:
near the knuckle (comparative more near the knuckle, superlative most near the knuckle)
1. (UK, idiomatic) Risqué, sexual, suggestive of impropriety.


Examples:





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Neat as a new pin

Details:
To be tidy and clean, very prim (can be used for a room or other setting, for a person etc.)


Examples:
The bike I bought from him is as neat as a new pin.

Origin:
E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.


Ca scos din cutie

Detalii:
A fi curat si ingrijit, foarte aranjat (poate fi folosit pentru o camera sau alta incinta, pentru persoane, obiecte etc.)


Exemple:
Bicicleta pe care am cumparat-o de la el e ca scoasa din cutie.

Necessary evil

Details:
If you say that something is a necessary evil, you don't like it but you understand that it has to exist and be accepted.


Examples:
Vaccinations are a necessary evil if you want to travel.




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Neck and neck

Details:
In a contest or competition, when two competitors reach the same level, they are neck and neck, so it is impossible to say who will win.
neck and neck (not comparable)
1. (idiomatic) Very close in progress, as in a race or contest.
? The polls suggest that the candidates were neck and neck in the election.


Examples:
At the moment the two teams are neck and neck for the Word Cup.




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Neck of the woods

Details:
neck of the woods (plural necks of the woods)
1. (idiomatic) A local neighbourhood or region.
2. (idiomatic) A place or field in which one is comfortable or with which one is familiar.


Examples:





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Necker's knob

Details:
necker's knob (plural necker's knobs)
1. (idiomatic, slang, dated) A knob attached to the steering wheel of an automobile, especially before the widespread availability of power steering, helping the driver steer with one arm and leaving the other arm free to provide romantic attention to a companion.


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Necktie party

Details:
necktie party (plural necktie parties)
1. (US, idiomatic, dated) An execution by hanging, especially a lynching.


Examples:





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Need i say more

Details:
need I say more?
1. (colloquial, humorous, rhetorical question) Used to say that audience can predict the result of something
? Joe Bloggs became president - need I say more?


Examples:





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Need it yesterday

Details:
need it yesterday
1. (idiomatic) To need something immediately or urgently; to need something that is already late.


Examples:





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Needle in a haystack

Details:
needle in a haystack (uncountable)
1. (idiomatic) Something that is difficult or impossible to locate; something impossibly complex or intractable.
? You'll never find the paper you need on her desk. You're looking for a needle in a haystack.


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Needless to say

Details:
needless to say
1. (idiomatic) Clearly, obviously (because it is visually obvious).
? Reporter: So how does it feel to have won the Grand Slam?
? Guy jumping around on a tennis pitch: Woo hoo!!! I've won!!! Yeah baby!!! Yeehaw!!! Come on!!!
? Reporter: He is, needless to say, a very happy man.


Examples:





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Neither fish nor fowl

Details:
neither fish nor fowl
1. (idiomatic) Something or someone which is not easily categorized; something or someone that does not rightly belong or fit well in a given group or situation.


Examples:





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Neither fish, flesh, nor good red herring

Details:
Unsuitable for anyone or anything; unfit for any purpose.


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Neither here nor there

Details:
neither here nor there
1. (idiomatic) Not important; having no significance or influence on the question at hand; not related; not relevant; not germane; not pertinent.
? The fact that pledges willingly submit themselves to hazing is neither here nor there and any organization that engages in hazing will lose its charter.


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Neither fish nor fowl

Details:
This expression is used to describe people or things that are difficult to classify, that are neither one thing nor another.


Examples:
Medical interns are neither fish nor fowl.  They are neither students nor fully qualified practitioners.




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Nerve-shredding

Details:
nerve-shredding (comparative more nerve-shredding, superlative most nerve-shredding)
1. (idiomatic) suspenseful


Examples:





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Nerves of steel

Details:
Someone who has nerves of steel is not afraid in difficult or dangerous situations.


Examples:
Fire-fighters need to have nerves of steel.




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Nervous as a cat

Details:
nervous as a cat (not comparable)
1. (simile) Very nervous.


Examples:





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Nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs

Details:
nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs
1. (simile) Extremely nervous.


Examples:





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Nervous hit

Details:
nervous hit
1. (theater, idiomatic, English) A production which receives generally favorably notice, but is not assured of success.


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Nest egg

Details:
If you have a nest egg, you have a reserve of money which you put aside for future needs.


Examples:
Our parents consider the money from the sale of their house as a nest egg for their old age.




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Nest egg

Details:
If you have a nest egg, you have a reserve of money which you put aside for future needs.


Examples:
Our parents consider the money from the sale of their house as a nest egg for their old age.




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Never in a million years

Details:
never in a million years
1. (idiomatic) Absolutely not.


Examples:





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Never in a millionyears

Details:
This expression means 'absolutely never'.


Examples:
I will never in a million years understand why Anne married Bob.




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Never in the million years

Details:
This expression means 'absolutely never' or 'at no time in my life'.


Examples:
I will never in a million years understand why Anne married Bob.




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Never look a gift horse in the mouth

Details:


Examples:



Calul de dar nu se cauta la dinti

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Never looked back

Details:
If you say that you never looked back, you mean that after an event which changed your life for the better, you continue to be happy with the situation.


Examples:
Since the day she decided to work from home, she has never looked back.




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Never mind

Details:
never mind
1. Used other than as an idiom: see never,‎ mind.
2. (imperative) It is not important; do not fret; used to reassure or comfort the person to whom it is said.
? I'm afraid I’ve broken your mug. — Never mind, it was old and I was going to throw it away.
? Did you fall over and hurt your knee? Never mind, I’ll put a bandage on it.
3. (imperative) Do n


Examples:





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Never say die

Details:
You can say 'never say die' to encourage someone to persevere in their efforts and not give up or abandon their project.


Examples:
Keep going - it's too soon to give up. Never say die!




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Never you mind

Details:
never you mind
1. (idiomatic) Do not concern yourself with it; it is none of your business.


Examples:





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Never rains but it pours

Details:
This expression is used to comment on the fact that when something bad happens, other bad things often happen too, and make the situation even worse.


Examples:
First he forgot his briefcase, then he lost his wallet, and when he reached the car park, his car had been stolen - it never rains but it pours!




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New lease of life

Details:
A person who has a new lease of life has a chance to live longer or with greater enjoyment or satisfaction.


Examples:
Moving closer to his children has given him a new lease of life.




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New school

Details:
new school (plural new schools)
1. (informal, idiomatic) A style, way of thinking, or method for accomplishing a task that is typical of the current era, as opposed to former eras.


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New standard

Details:
new standard (plural new standards)
1. (idiomatic) Something that is set when someone does the unthinkable, or does something better than anyone else.
? Lance Armstrong set a new standard for modern man.


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