Showing 24 of 3,697 lessons.
call the tune
Making important decisions and controlling a situation
“He CALLS THE TUNE”
calm before the storm
A quiet period before a period of trouble or activity
“It's THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM”
calm down
To become less angry or excited
“Just CALM DOWN and breathe”
can of worms
A source of many problems
“That opened A CAN OF WORMS”
can't judge a book by its cover
Cannot judge something primarily on appearance
“You CAN'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER”
can't make head nor tail of
To be completely unable to understand something
“I CAN'T MAKE HEAD NOR TAIL OF this”
can't see the forest for the trees
Unable to maintain a wider perspective
“You CAN'T SEE THE FOREST FOR THE TREES”
cancel culture
The practice of withdrawing support for public figures
“CANCEL CULTURE is affecting many celebrities”
card up your sleeve
A surprise advantage of which others are not aware
“He has A CARD UP HIS SLEEVE”
cards are stacked against you
The situation is unfairly against you
“THE CARDS ARE STACKED AGAINST US”
carrot and stick
A tactic in which rewards are offered, but there is also the threat of punishment
“Use THE CARROT AND STICK approach”
carry a torch for
To continue to be in love with someone even after a relationship has ended
“He still CARRIES A TORCH FOR her”
carry on
To continue doing something
“Just CARRY ON with your work”
carry the ball
To take charge or responsibility
“Who's GOING TO CARRY THE BALL?”
carry the can
To take the blame for something one did not do
“He had to CARRY THE CAN”
cash cow
A product, service, or business that makes a lot of steady profit
“That product is our CASH COW”
cash in
To take advantage of a quick profit; to die
“Time to CASH IN”
cash-strapped
In need of money
“We're CASH-STRAPPED”
cast pearls before swine
To waste something good on those who don't appreciate it
“Explaining subtlety to them is CASTING PEARLS BEFORE SWINE.”
cast the first stone
To be the first to criticize or attack someone
“Don't CAST THE FIRST STONE”
castle in the air
An impractical plan
“It's just A CASTLE IN THE AIR”
cat got your tongue
Don't you have anything to say?
“HAS THE CAT GOT YOUR TONGUE?”
cat nap
A short sleep during the day
“I'm taking A CAT NAP”
catch as catch can
Using any method available
“It's CATCH AS CATCH CAN around here”