Idioms beginning with O
Idiom | Meaning |
Off the beaten path | Away from the usual route or course |
Out of the blue | Suddenly and unexpectedly |
Once in a blue moon | Very rarely |
On the ball | Alert, competent, and efficient |
On thin ice | In a risky or precarious situation |
Out of the woods | Out of danger or difficulty |
Over the moon | Extremely happy or delighted |
On cloud nine | In a state of bliss or happiness |
Out of sight, out of mind | When something is not visible, it’s easy to forget about it |
Old hat | Outdated or old-fashioned |
On the fence | Undecided or neutral about a decision or situation |
On the same page | In agreement or understanding with someone |
On the ropes | In a difficult or precarious situation |
Out of pocket | To have spent one’s own money or be in debt |
On pins and needles | Nervous or anxious anticipation |
Out of commission | Not functioning or unavailable for use |
Out of the ordinary | Unusual or unexpected |
On the back burner | Temporarily postponed or given less priority |
On the rocks | In a state of difficulty or disarray |
On the same wavelength | In agreement or understanding with someone |
Over the top | Excessive or exaggerated |
Out of the loop | Uninformed or unaware of current events or information |
Out of the question | Not feasible or acceptable |
Over the hill | Past one’s prime or no longer young |
Out of the frying pan into the fire | From one bad situation to a worse one |
On the line | In a position of risk or under pressure |
Out of touch | Lacking understanding or awareness |
Once bitten, twice shy | Being cautious after a negative experience |
Out of sorts | Feeling unwell or not quite oneself |
Open a can of worms | To introduce a complicated or troublesome situation |
Out of gas | Exhausted or lacking energy |
On a silver platter | Given something without any effort or sacrifice |
Off the record | Informally or unofficially |
On the mend | Recovering from illness or injury |
On the house | Provided at no cost |
Out of bounds | Beyond the allowed limits or boundaries |
Over my dead body | Absolutely not going to happen |