|
Idiom |
Definition |
Usage |
| RACK
(ONE’S) BRAIN(S) |
to search through one’s mind intensively; to try very hard
to think of something |
1. I’ve been racking my brains, but I just can’t remember
where I know that person from.
2. When John saw the exam questions, he knew he wasn’t
prepared. He racked his brain for the answers, but he
couldn’t come up with anything useful. |
| rain check |
free ticket |
He received a
rain check to the baseball game after it was
cancelled because of the rain. |
| rain check |
permission |
The store gave her a
rain check to purchase the product for the
same price at a later date since it was sold out today. |
| RAINING
CATS AND DOGS |
to rain very heavily |
1. The children should take their raincoats, umbrellas, and
boots—it’s raining cats and dogs.
2. I’ve never seen such rain! Look how fast it’s coming
down. It’s raining cats and dogs. |
| RAIN ON
(SOMEONE’S) PARADE |
to spoil someone’s happy feelings
Compare to: wet blanket
The expression suggests that spoiling someone’s happy
feelings is similar to having it rain during a parade. The
expression is usually used in the negative. |
1. They’re feeling so good today; nothing could rain on
their parade and spoil the way they feel.
2. I’m in a great mood, so don’t tell me anything that might
change the way I’m feeling. Don’t rain on my parade. |
| raise a fuss |
complain |
The woman at the
restaurant chose to raise a fuss when her
meal arrived late. |
| raise a hand |
do something |
She will never
raise a hand to help her friends. |
| RAISE
CAIN |
to cause a disturbance, often because one is extremely
angry; to make trouble
Compare to: blow (one’s) stack; read (someone) the riot act
The word Cain in the expression refers to a Biblical
character, the first son of Adam and Eve, who killed his
brother Abel. |
1. The citizens were unhappy with the way the city council
was running the government. They mounted a protest and
raised Cain at the next city council meeting to let their
feelings be known.
2. Mr. Ward found that his sons had used his tools and left
them all over the garage floor. He raised Cain when he saw
the boys and told them they couldn’t use the tools again.
3. Quit raising Cain! I know you’re angry about the change
in our plans, but there is nothing we can do about it. |
| raise eyebrows |
cause surprise |
These crazy clothes
should raise eyebrows at the office
tomorrow. |
| rake in the
money |
make a lot of money |
She should be able to
rake in the money with that new product. |
| RAKE
(SOMEONE)/GET RAKED OVER THE COALS |
to reprimand or criticize someone harshly
Synonyms: chew (someone) out; read (someone) the riot act
Compare to: call (someone) on the carpet; give someone a
piece of (one’s) mind; lay down the law Rake someone over
the coals is more severe than call someone on the carpet. |
1. The bank teller stood silently in the manager’s office
while she raked him over the coals for the errors he had
made that day.
2. The principal discovered who was responsible for the
vandalism at the school. He called them into his office and
raked them over the coals. |
| RANK
AND FILE |
the non-management workers in a company or the
non-leadership members of a political party
The expression comes from the military formation of soldiers
side by side (rank) and one behind the other (file) forming
large groups such as platoons.
The expression has come to be applied to the non-management
workers in a union (sentence 1) or company (sentence 2). |
1. The union asked its rank-and-file members to vote against
the new contract that the company was offering.
2. Ted is getting promoted from the rank and file to a
position in middle management. He hasn’t had much schooling,
but his years among the workers have taught him enough to
work his way up. |
| ran out of gas |
lost momentum |
The politician
ran out of gas during the campaign. |
| READ
BETWEEN THE LINES |
to understand a message that is alluded to but not directly
said or written
Compare to: read something into (something).
The expression suggests that there is meaning hidden between
the lines of the words actually written. |
1. Although James didn’t say it in so many words, Elizabeth
could read between the lines that he didn’t want to see her
again.
2. They tried to give him the bad news gently and without
saying it directly, but he didn’t seem to understand all
their hinting. Finally they asked him, “Can’t you read
between the lines?” |
| READ
(SOMEONE) THE RIOT ACT |
to reprimand or scold someone harshly
Compare to: rake (someone) over the coals; raise Cain; chew
(someone) out; call (someone) on the carpet; lay down the
law
The expression originates from the Riot Act of 1716, in
which King George I of England decreed that it was unlawful
for twelve or more people to assemble in order to protest or
act in a ‘disruptive’ manner. When such an assembly took
place, a person of authority was directed to read the Riot
Act to the crowd in order to disperse them. Anyone refusing
to disperse after the reading could then be arrested. |
1. When the girls arrived home several hours late, their
mother read them the riot act.
2. The teacher was very upset that the students rarely
turned in their homework or applied themselves to their
studies. He read them the riot act, telling them that they
were foolish not to be making the most of their education. |
| READ
(SOMETHING) INTO (SOMETHING) |
to give some meaning to something that is not justified; to
imagine some significance that doesn’t exist
Compare to: read between the lines
The expression suggests that one can see meaning in some
action or something said or written that is not actually
there. |
1. Let me tell you what Scott said to me and then tell me
how you would interpret it. Am I reading more into it than I
should?
2. When the lifeguard passed by and said hello to the young
girl, she was convinced that he was in love with her. She
was reading something into his hello that wasn’t there,
because he said hello to everyone. |
| REAL
MCCOY, THE |
the genuine article; not an imitation or substitute |
1. When Mark asked Diana what kind of engagement ring she
wanted, she said she didn’t want an imitation diamond. She
wanted the real McCoy.
2. You have to be careful when you go shopping in some
places in Europe. Tourists buy a lot of items like watches
and purses that supposedly are famous brands, but they
aren’t the real McCoy. |
| ream someone out |
yell at him |
The boss decided to
ream him out for his bad report. |
| red
flag |
|
|
| RED
HERRING |
something used to divert someone’s attention from the real
or important issue; something used to send a searcher in the
wrong direction
The expression originates from the fact that a red (smoked)
herring has a powerful and persistent odor. Centuries ago
red herring was used to train dogs to track scents. Those
hoping to misdirect tracking dogs would drag red herring
across their trails since a dog that gets a whiff of red
herring will lose any other scent that it has been
following.
This expression is often used in the context of mystery
stories. |
1. The newspaper reporters were hot on the trail of a good
news story. The man they were pursuing didn’t want to be
caught, so he tried to mislead them by throwing them a red
herring.
2. The elected officials in congress don’t want the voting
public to concentrate on the issue of higher taxes. They
divert the public’s attention by constantly raising another,
less important issue that is nothing more than a red
herring. |
| red ink |
debt |
The company has been in
red ink from the beginning. |
| RED
LETTER DAY |
an important day; a day to remember
The expression originates from the practice of marking holy
days in red on some calendars. |
1. Tomorrow is going to be a red letter day for our school.
The president is coming to speak to the students and
faculty.
2. Mike was made a vice president of the company yesterday.
It certainly was a red letter day for him. |
| RED
TAPE |
the unnecessary paperwork and procedures of a complicated
bureaucracy |
1. I try never to ask the government for anything. They are
so bogged down in red tape that it takes forever, it just
isn’t worth the effort.
2. When my father was rushed to the hospital, the head nurse
cut through all the red tape so that he could get to see a
doctor immediately. |
| REST ON
(ONE’S) LAURELS |
to be so satisfied with what one has already accomplished
that one no longer works very hard |
1. David had brought a lot of money into the company in the
last few months and he deserved to take it easy for a while,
but he was working harder than ever. He refused to rest on
his laurels.
2. Ted invented one new product that was a huge success, but
that was over ten years ago. He hasn’t produced or
contributed much since then—he’s been resting on his
laurels. |
| RHYME
OR REASON, NO |
logic; explanation
Compare to: method in/to (one’s) madness
The expression rhyme or reason, which is usually used in the
negative or in question form, emphasizes the total lack of
apparent rationale for some behavior. The phrase originates
from William Shakespeare’s play As You Like It, in which the
character Orlando responds “Neither rhyme nor reason can
express how much” when he is asked if he is really as much
in love as his rhymes suggest. |
1. Linda didn’t understand why George had done what he did,
so she asked him if there was any rhyme or reason for his
behavior.
2. I was walking quietly down the street when I saw this dog
sitting inside its yard. Then, with no rhyme or reason, the
dog jumped over the fence and bit me. |
| right
as rain |
|
|
| |
to stir something in one’s memory; to cause someone to
remember something
For centuries bells have been rung to call people’s
attention or remind them of events, such as bells ringing to
announce the start of town meetings, doorbells, and even the
ringing of telephone ‘bells.’ |
1. Laura asked him whether he had heard of Maggie Smith, but
he told her that the name didn’t ring a bell. He couldn’t
recall whether he had heard of the woman before or not.
2. I’m not sure I’ll know any of the guests you’re inviting
to the party, but if you read the list of names to me, some
of them may ring a bell. |
| RING A
BELL |
|
|
| rip off |
overpriced item |
This car was really a
rip off.
|
| rip off |
steal |
Someone tried to
rip off her car last night. |
| ROCK
THE BOAT |
to disturb a situation that is beneficial to the people
involved; to cause trouble where none is wanted
Compare to: upset the apple cart
The expression often describes a situation that becomes
worse for the people involved when someone opens the
situation to scrutiny.
The expression suggests the idea that people who stand up or
move about in a boat disturb the other passengers because
the boat may capsize. It is frequently used as the negative
command, “Don’t rock the boat.” |
1. Unknown to the boss, many employees left work earlier
than they were supposed to. They thought they had a good
thing going until Bill became angry and rocked the boat by
telling the boss what was going on.
2. Everyone is happy with the situation as it is. If you
change it, you’ll be rocking the boat. |
| ROLL
OUT THE RED CARPET {THE RED-CARPET TREATMENT} |
to give someone the best treatment and show them the finest
hospitality
The expression originates from the practice in which, when
famous or important people are received, a red carpet is
often laid for them to walk on from their carriage or car to
the building they will enter. When someone is given the
red-carpet treatment, he or she is treated like an
extra-special person. |
1. The businessmen were given the red-carpet treatment by
the small town in the hopes that they would decide it was a
good place to build a factory.
2. Please don’t go to any trouble for us when we come to
visit. You don’t need to roll out the red carpet. |
| ROLL
WITH THE PUNCHES |
to adjust to bad fortune; to take a relaxed attitude towards
life and its problems
Synonym: take (something) in stride
Compare to: go with the flow; like water off a duck’s back |
1. Adversity doesn’t seem to bother Tom. When something bad
happens to him, he rolls with the punches, he makes the best
of the situation and goes on.
2. In this business there are a lot of unpredictable ups and
downs. One has to learn to adjust and take them as they
come. One must learn to roll with the punches. |
|
ROSE-COLORED GLASSES, SEE (SOMEONE/ SOMETHING) THROUGH |
to see something in a falsely good way; not to see something
objectively
The expression suggests that a person looks at something
with glasses (eyes) that are not clear. Instead he uses rose
(pink)colored glasses that give a falsely good view of
something. |
1. We admit that we’ve been seeing the situation through
rose-colored glasses, and now we must face the situation and
see it as it really is.
2. Parents almost always have trouble seeing their children
the way the rest of the world sees them. Instead, they look
at them through rose-colored glasses. |
| rough time |
hard time |
We have had a
rough time this winter. |
| RUB
ELBOWS WITH (SOMEONE) |
to associate with someone; to come into contact with someone
This expression refers to the imagery of getting so close to
someone that your elbows touch. The term can be used in
either a boasting or a negative manner. |
1. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell go to a lot of fancy dinner parties
where they rub elbows with some very famous people.
2. In his line of work as a criminal lawyer, Brian rubs
elbows with some of the lowest levels of society. |
| RUB
(SOMEONE) THE WRONG WAY |
to irritate someone
Compare to: bug; set (someone’s) teeth on edge; get
(someone’s) dander up; get (someone’s) goat
Whereas bug, get someone’s goat and get someone’s dander up
can be used to describe a specific irritation or annoyance
caused by either someone or something, rub someone the wrong
way usually describes a clash of personalities that is more
general, going beyond a single event or reason. |
1. Sarah doesn’t know what it is about that man, but she
just doesn’t like him. No matter what he says or does, he
rubs her the wrong way.
2. I wish I could just ignore Robert’s irritating habits,
but I can’t stand to be around him. He rubs me the wrong
way. |
| RULE OF
THUMB |
a rough guide; an unwritten or customary rule based on
experience or practice |
1. In this company there is no written rule about how long
we can take for our lunch break, but the rule of thumb has
been about one hour.
2. Sometimes it’s hard to know how you are supposed to
address people you are meeting for the first time. A good
rule of thumb is to be formal and wait until they invite you
to call them by their first names. |
| RUN
AMOK |
to run around in a frenzied or disorderly way
The expression originates from the Malay word amuk, which
has a similar meaning. |
1. I hope the class will walk in an orderly line as we go to
the other classroom. There’s no need to run amok.
2. The boys startled the sheep, and the sheep pushed down
the gate to the pen and ran amok through the farm. |
| RUN
CIRCLES AROUND (SOMEONE) |
to outperform someone by a wide margin; to be better than
someone
Compare to: head and shoulders above; not hold a candle to
(someone)
The expression suggests someone who can move quickly around
another person, leaving him dazed or sluggishly stuck in the
middle. Whereas run circles around someone means to
outperform someone (usually physically), head and shoulders
above someone usually refers to a person’s character or
inner qualities. |
1. Tina is a much better tennis player than Mary. She ran
circles around Mary in the tennis match yesterday.
2. I’m not very good at math and science. Most people run
circles around me in those two subjects. |
| RUN ITS
COURSE |
to follow a natural progression without interference
The expression is most often used in terms of illness
(sentence 1), but can also be used to describe other
processes that have a predictable or established course of
events. |
1. The doctor told the patient that there was no medicine he
could give her for her illness. He told her that she would
just have to let the fever run its course.
2. There wasn’t much the police could do to stop the
demonstration. Since it was peaceful, they let the
demonstration run its course. |
| RUN OF
THE MILL |
ordinary or usual
The expression run of the mill originates from the idea of a
product such as fabric, which was first mass produced (the
run) in a mill, enabling it to be uniform. |
1. That restaurant serves lots of different dishes, but none
is outstanding or very much better than in any other
restaurant. It’s run of the mill.
2. Ricky was an average student who liked to play sports as
much as the next boy. He was your runof the mill student. |
| run short |
not have enough |
If we don’t order
supplies now, we will probably run short. |
| RUN
(SOMETHING) INTO THE GROUND |
to belabor something beyond reason; to go too far with
something
Compare to: beat a dead horse
Beat a dead horse means to talk about a topic or idea that
cannot succeed (it’s dead), whereas run something into the
ground means to talk about a topic or idea that may be
viable, but to do so to excess. |
1. Now that everyone is tired of listening to that idea, why
don’t you stop talking about it? You have run it into the
ground.
2. I’m going to push this idea with the boss until he
accepts it, even if I have to run it into the ground. |
| run the show |
make the decisions |
It seems as if the boss
really likes to run the show. |
| running off at
the mouth |
talking too much |
He is always
running off at the mouth. |
