Idioms Translator

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
Base language: EN

Letter: p

Total idioms: 9858 - currently selected: 589 (50 per page)

Play silly buggers

Details:
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


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Play someone like a fiddle

Details:
play someone like a fiddle
1. (idiomatic) To manipulate (a person) skilfully.
? He played you like a fiddle.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Play the field

Details:
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.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Play the fool

Details:
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.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Play the game

Details:
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.




Detalii:


Exemple:

Play the hand one is dealt

Details:
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.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Play the market

Details:
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.




Detalii:


Exemple:

Play the ponies

Details:
play the ponies
1. (intransitive, idiomatic) to bet on horse racing.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Play the race card

Details:
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.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Play the same tape

Details:
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.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Play to the crowd

Details:
play to the crowd
1. (intransitive, idiomatic) To appeal to the least sophisticated parts of an audience in order to obtain maximum approval.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Play to the gallery

Details:
play to the gallery
1. (intransitive, idiomatic) To appeal to the least sophisticated parts of an audience in order to obtain maximum approval.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Play to win

Details:
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


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Play up

Details:
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.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Play well with others

Details:
play well with others
1. (idiomatic) To habitually demonstrate social skills by engaging agreeably in social or work activities.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Play with

Details:
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.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Play with fire

Details:
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.




Detalii:


Exemple:

Play your cards right

Details:
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.




Detalii:


Exemple:

Play gooseberry

Details:
If you play gooseberry, you join or accompany two people who have a  romantic relationship and want to be alone.


Examples:
They invited me to join them but I didn't want to play gooseberry.




Detalii:


Exemple:

Play possum

Details:
When someone plays possum, they pretend to be dead or asleep in order to avoid something they don't want to do.


Examples:
Sarah's not asleep.  She's just playing possum because she doesn't want to come swimming.




Detalii:


Exemple:

Plead the fifth

Details:
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


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Pleased as punch

Details:
pleased as Punch (not comparable)
1. (colloquial, simile) Pleased with one's actions or achievements.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Plow on

Details:
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.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Plug away

Details:
plug away
1. (idiomatic) To persist or continue, as with an effort.
? He kept plugging away at the work until it was done.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Plug in

Details:
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.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Plum in your mouth

Details:
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!




Detalii:


Exemple:

Plum job

Details:
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.




Detalii:


Exemple:

Plumber's helper

Details:
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.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Plum in your mouth

Details:
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!




Detalii:


Exemple:

Po'd

Details:
PO'd (comparative more PO'd, superlative most PO'd)
1. (idiomatic, colloquial, euphemistic) Annoyed, irritated, angry; depressed, fed up.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Poacher turned gamekeeper

Details:
poacher turned gamekeeper (plural poachers turned gamekeepers)
1. (idiomatic) A person who now works against the same people they once supported.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Poachers gun

Details:
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.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Pocket of resistance

Details:
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.




Detalii:


Exemple:

Pocket-sized

Details:
pocket-sized (not comparable)
1. small enough to fit into a pocket
2. (idiomatic) small-scale, downsized


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Poetry in motion

Details:
poetry in motion (uncountable)
1. (idiomatic) Graceful, fluid movement.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Point blank

Details:
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);


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Point of no return

Details:
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.




Detalii:


Exemple:

Point out

Details:
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.<


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Point the finger

Details:
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.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Point the finger at

Details:
point the finger at
1. (transitive, idiomatic) to accuse or blame
? It seems like everyone always tries to point the finger at somebody else.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Poison pen

Details:
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.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Poison-pen letter

Details:
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.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Poisoned chalice

Details:
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.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Poker face

Details:
If you have a poker face, you show no emotion at all.


Examples:
All during the trial the criminal kept a poker face.




Detalii:


Exemple:

Poker face

Details:
If you have a poker face, you show no emotion at all.


Examples:
All during the trial the criminal kept a poker face.




Detalii:


Exemple:

Poles apart

Details:
poles apart (not comparable)
1. (idiomatic) Totally opposite.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Police beat

Details:
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.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Polish off

Details:
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


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Polish parliament

Details:
Polish parliament (plural Polish parliaments)
1. The Sejm of the Republic of Poland.
2. (idiomatic) A deliberative body institutionally unable to reach a decision.


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:

Polite fiction

Details:
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


Examples:





Detalii:


Exemple:


Change base language

EN   RO

Search / Cautare

Project Presentation

Read about the whole idea and birth of the project in the article below:
Idiomatic Expressions Translator Prezentation

Get the phone app

I also made an Android App that you can install directly from Google Play:
Idioms Translator Android App

This project involves a huge amount of time for linguistic research and software development, which I don't have due to the job commitments.
So any support from the community will allow me to dedicate some work to the development of this project. Thank you!

 Show your support