Idioms Translator
Base language: EN
Letter: p
Total idioms: 9849 - currently selected: 589 (50 per page)Play second fiddle
If you play second fiddle to another person, you accept to be second in importance to that person, or have a lower position.
Examples:
John resented having to play second fiddle to the sales manager when the company was restructured.
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Play second fiddle
If you play second fiddle to someone, you accept to be second in importance to that person, or have a lower position.
Examples:
When Charles became chairman of the family business, his brother declared that he would rather leave than play second fiddle to him.
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Play silly buggers
play silly buggers (third-person singular simple present plays silly buggers, present participle playing silly buggers, simple past and past participle played silly bugger)
1. (UK, Australia, New Zealand, idiomatic) To act in a stupid or reckless manner
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Play someone like a fiddle
play someone like a fiddle
1. (idiomatic) To manipulate (a person) skilfully.
? He played you like a fiddle.
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Play the field
play the field
1. (idiomatic) To date more than one person at the same time.
? He says I'm the only one, but my friends say he's playing the field.
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Play the fool
play the fool (third-person singular simple present plays the fool, present participle playing the fool, simple past and past participle played the fool)
1. (idiomatic) To behave in a foolish or comical manner.
2. (idiomatic) To pretend/feign ignorance.
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Play the game
If you play the game, you accept to do things according to generally-accepted customs or code of behaviour.
Examples:
Not all website owners play the game. Some download content from other sites without permission.
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Play the hand one is dealt
play the hand one is dealt
1. (idiomatic) To use the resources which one actually has available; to operate realistically, within the limits of one's circumstances.
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Play the market
If you play the market, you buy stocks and shares in the hope of making a profit when you sell them.
Examples:
It's always tempting to play the market, but it's more risky at the present time.
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Play the ponies
play the ponies
1. (intransitive, idiomatic) to bet on horse racing.
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Play the race card
play the race card
1. (idiomatic) To assert that race or racism is responsible for a course of events, especially when race is not of particular significance to the issue in question; to attempt to inspire a particular reaction by raising the issue of race.
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Play the same tape
play the same tape (third-person singular simple present plays the same tape, present participle playing the same tape, simple past and past participle played the same tape)
1. (idiomatic) To repeat exactly what one previously said or did.
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Play to the crowd
play to the crowd
1. (intransitive, idiomatic) To appeal to the least sophisticated parts of an audience in order to obtain maximum approval.
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Play to the gallery
play to the gallery
1. (intransitive, idiomatic) To appeal to the least sophisticated parts of an audience in order to obtain maximum approval.
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Play to win
to play to win (third-person singular simple present plays to win, present participle playing to win, simple past and past participle played to win)
1. (sports) To play in an especially competitive, committed manner, focused intently on winning.
2. (idiomatic, by extension) To make a special, determined effort to achieve general success or a particular goal, in life, in
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Play up
play up
1. (UK, idiomatic) To misbehave
? Children who do not receive enough attention may begin to play up.
2. (idiomatic) To make or attempt to make something appear more important, likely or obvious; to showcase or highlight
? For the audition, Nicole will play up her skill as a pianist by playing Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by Bach.
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Play well with others
play well with others
1. (idiomatic) To habitually demonstrate social skills by engaging agreeably in social or work activities.
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Play with
play with
1. Used other than as an idiom: play with.
? The boy was playing with his toys.
2. (transitive) To fiddle with; make small adjustments to, for example to something mechanical in order to improve its performance.
3. (transitive) To trick.
4. (transitive) To sexually stimulate the genitals.
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Play with fire
People who take unnecessary risks or behave in a dangerous way are playing with fire.
Examples:
Driving alone on isolated roads in this weather is playing with fire.
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Play your cards right
If you play your cards right, you do all that is necessary in order to succeed or to obtain what you want.
Examples:
If we play our cards right, we'll get the contract.
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Plead the fifth
plead the fifth (third-person singular simple present pleads the fifth, present participle pleading the fifth, simple past and past participle pled or pleaded the fifth; see plead)
1. (idiomatic) To refuse to answer a question, or refuse to speak, especially when the response would reflect badly on the speaker
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Pleased as punch
pleased as Punch (not comparable)
1. (colloquial, simile) Pleased with one's actions or achievements.
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Plow on
plow on (third-person singular simple present plows on, present participle plowing on, simple past and past participle plowed on)
1. (idiomatic) to continue to do a menial or tedious task.
? If you want to get good grades in the exam, you have to plow on with the book.
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Plug away
plug away
1. (idiomatic) To persist or continue, as with an effort.
? He kept plugging away at the work until it was done.
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Plug in
plug in (third-person singular simple present plugs in, present participle plugging in, simple past and past participle plugged in)
1. (idiomatic) To connect (an electrical device) to a plug socket.
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Plum in your mouth
Someone who speaks with an upper-class accent is said to have a plum in their mouth.
Examples:
He speaks just like an aristocrat - with a plum in his mouth!
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Plum in your mouth
Someone who speaks with an upper-class accent is said to have a plum in their mouth.
Examples:
He speaks just like an aristocrat - with a plum in his mouth!
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Plum job
A desirable position which is well-paid and considered relatively easy is called a plum job.
Examples:
Ideally he'd like to find himself a plum job in New York.
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Plumber's helper
plumber's helper (plural plumber's helpers)
1. (idiomatic) A plunger, consisting of a large suction cup attached to a stick and used to remove blockages from toilets, sinks, or drains.
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Po'd
PO'd (comparative more PO'd, superlative most PO'd)
1. (idiomatic, colloquial, euphemistic) Annoyed, irritated, angry; depressed, fed up.
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Poacher turned gamekeeper
poacher turned gamekeeper (plural poachers turned gamekeepers)
1. (idiomatic) A person who now works against the same people they once supported.
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Poachers gun
poachers gun (plural poachers guns)
1. Used other than as an idiom. poacher's gun
2. (firearms) A small bore shotgun hidden in a walking cane.
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Pocket of resistance
A small group of people you resist change or disagree with a proposal form a pocket of resistance.
Examples:
The new boss wants to introduce job-sharing, but there's a pocket of resistance in the sales department.
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Pocket-sized
pocket-sized (not comparable)
1. small enough to fit into a pocket
2. (idiomatic) small-scale, downsized
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Poetry in motion
poetry in motion (uncountable)
1. (idiomatic) Graceful, fluid movement.
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Point blank
point blank (not comparable)
1. The distance between a gun and a target such that it requires minimal effort in aiming it. In particular no allowance needs to be made for effects of gravity, target movement or wind in aiming the projectile.
point blank (not comparable)
1. Horizontally (as the angle at which a projectile is launched);
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Point of no return
When you reach the point of no return, you have no option but to continue what you have started, because you have gone so far that it is impossible to go back.
Examples:
I've resigned from teaching and decided to become a writer. Now I've reached the point of no return and must work on the book I am writing.
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Point out
point out (third-person singular simple present points out, present participle pointing out, simple past and past participle pointed out)
1. (transitive, idiomatic) To identify among a group of similar subjects, or in a scene where the subject might not be readily seen or noticed, with a gesture of the body.
? He pointed out the little brown bird in the tree.<
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Point the finger
point the finger
1. (idiomatic) To accuse (someone); to direct or imply blame.
? That is a serious accusation, so make sure you have plenty of evidence before you point the finger at someone.
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Point the finger at
point the finger at
1. (transitive, idiomatic) to accuse or blame
? It seems like everyone always tries to point the finger at somebody else.
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Poison pen
poison pen (plural poison pens)
1. (idiomatic) A manner, means, or tone of expression had by a written work, characterized by spitefulness, defamation, and/or intimidation directed toward a person, organization, or point of view.
2. (attributive, sometimes hyphenated) Of, pertaining to, or possessing such a manner of expression.
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Poison-pen letter
poison-pen letter (plural poison-pen letters)
1. (idiomatic) A missive which is malicious, insulting, and/or defamatory toward a person, organization, or point of view, especially one which is unsigned.
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Poisoned chalice
poisoned chalice (plural poisoned chalices)
1. (idiomatic) A scheme or instrument for causing death or harm, especially one which eventually brings about the downfall of its creator; something which is initially regarded as advantageous but which is later recognized to be disadvantageous or harmful.
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Poker face
If you have a poker face, you show no emotion at all.
Examples:
All during the trial the criminal kept a poker face.
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Poker face
If you have a poker face, you show no emotion at all.
Examples:
All during the trial the criminal kept a poker face.
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Poles apart
poles apart (not comparable)
1. (idiomatic) Totally opposite.
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Police beat
police beat (plural police beats)
1. Used other than as an idiom: see police, beat.
2. (Australia, Queensland) A small police station, with a limited range of facilities, located in an officer's residence or in a shopping centre.
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Polish off
polish off (third-person singular simple present polishes off, present participle polishing off, simple past and past participle polished off)
1. (idiomatic) To finish completely, especially a food (polish the plate with one's tongue) or liquor.
? They polished off the last of the cake.
2. To remove by polishing (rubbing with a fine abrasive).
? Whi
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Polish parliament
Polish parliament (plural Polish parliaments)
1. The Sejm of the Republic of Poland.
2. (idiomatic) A deliberative body institutionally unable to reach a decision.
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Polite fiction
polite fiction (plural polite fictions)
1. (idiomatic) A social scenario in which all participants are aware of a truth, but pretend to believe in some alternative version of events to avoid conflict or embarrassment.
? Susan is only able to deal with the fact that her husband has sex with the man down the street through a filter of polite fiction. She knows what her husband is r
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