Idioms beginning with S

Idiom

Meaning

Spill the beans

To disclose a secret or reveal information

Save face

To avoid embarrassment or preserve one’s dignity

Steal someone’s thunder

To take credit for someone else’s achievements or ideas

Straight from the horse’s mouth

Directly from the most reliable source

Shake a leg

To hurry up or get moving

Straight and narrow

To behave in an honest and moral manner

Set the record straight

To provide accurate information and correct misconceptions

Slippery slope

A situation or course of action that leads to further trouble

Speak of the devil

When someone mentioned in conversation suddenly appears

Smoke and mirrors

Deceptive or misleading tactics or illusions

Steal the show

To attract the most attention or praise

Sleep like a log

To sleep very deeply and soundly

Sharp as a tack

Very intelligent or mentally alert

Stick to your guns

To maintain one’s position or beliefs firmly

Skeletons in the closet

Secrets or embarrassing information kept hidden

Spitballing

Tossing around ideas or suggestions informally

See eye to eye

To agree or have the same opinion

Shoot the breeze

To engage in casual conversation

Sweet tooth

A strong liking for sweets or sugary foods

Steer clear

To avoid or stay away from something

Sour grapes

Disparaging or belittling something that one desires but cannot have

Stick in the mud

Someone who is resistant to change or new ideas

Speak volumes

To convey a great deal of information or emotion

Show the ropes

To teach or demonstrate how to do something

Set in stone

Fixed or permanent, unable to be changed or altered

Salt of the earth

A dependable and genuine person

Sing like a canary

To confess or reveal information under pressure

Slap on the wrist

A mild punishment or reprimand

Stand on ceremony

To adhere strictly to formalities or etiquette

See the forest for the trees

To see the bigger picture or overall situation

Stick one’s neck out

To take a risk or make oneself vulnerable

Six feet under

Dead and buried

Storm in a teacup

A situation where there is a lot of unnecessary fuss or excitement over something trivial

Spill the tea

To gossip or share secrets

Stab in the back

Betrayal by someone trusted

Scratch the surface

To examine or investigate only superficially

Slip through the cracks

To go unnoticed or unaddressed

Set the stage

To prepare or arrange for something to happen

Snowball effect

A situation where something grows or escalates rapidly

Spring to mind

To come to one’s thoughts or memory unexpectedly

Shoot from the hip

To speak or act without careful consideration or preparation

Speak out of turn

To say something inappropriate or at an inappropriate time

Swing for the fences

To attempt something with great ambition or risk

Stand the test of time

To remain effective or relevant over a long period of time

Sticks and stones

Words or criticism that cannot cause harm or damage

Stir up a hornet’s nest

To cause trouble or provoke a situation

Stretch the truth

To exaggerate or embellish the facts

Step up to the plate

To take on a challenge or responsibility

Stick with it

To persist or continue despite difficulties or setbacks

Speak one’s mind

To express one’s thoughts or opinions freely

Shoo-in

A certain or easy winner

Stick it to someone

To exact revenge or get even with someone

Set the bar high

To establish high expectations or standards

Sing a different tune

To change one’s opinion or attitude

See the light

To understand or become aware of something

Shoot the messenger

To blame the bearer of bad news

Straighten up and fly right

To improve one’s behavior or performance

Settle the score

To get revenge or settle a dispute

Safe and sound

To be unharmed or uninjured

Sell like hotcakes

To sell very quickly and in large quantities

Strike while the iron is hot

To take advantage of an opportunity when it’s available

Square peg in a round hole

Someone or something that doesn’t fit or belong

Steal someone’s heart

To make someone fall in love or become infatuated

Stone’s throw

A short distance away

Stick out like a sore thumb

To be very noticeable or conspicuous

Sow wild oats

To engage in youthful or irresponsible behavior

Sell ice to Eskimos

To persuade someone to buy something they don’t need or want

Scapegoat

Someone who is unfairly blamed for something

Split hairs

To argue or debate about insignificant details

Smell a rat

To suspect that something is wrong or suspicious

Swallow one’s pride

To suppress one’s ego or admit one’s fault or mistake

Silence is golden

Sometimes it’s better to say nothing at all

Silver lining

A positive aspect in a seemingly negative situation

Save one’s bacon

To rescue someone from a difficult situation