List of Phrases and Idioms 801-900 (rough – state)

Phrases and idioms add color and expression to everyday language, often conveying meanings beyond the literal words. The table below lists common phrases and idioms along with their meanings to help you understand and use them effectively.

Phrase / Idiom	Meaning
rough – rough and ready	Crude but serviceable; adequate for immediate use.
round – go the rounds	Be passed or shared widely from person to person.
round – in round figures	Rounded to a convenient whole number.
round – round of applause	A bout of clapping to show appreciation.
round – round someone up	Gather people together; assemble.
rub – rub one’s hands	Show gleeful anticipation or self-satisfaction.
rub – rub shoulders with	Mix or associate closely with.
rule – as a rule	Generally; usually.
rule – rule of law	Principle that everyone is equally subject to fair, enforced laws.
rule – rule of thumb	Practical guideline based on experience, not theory.
rule – rule the roost	Dominate; be in control.
runner – do a runner	Flee quickly to avoid paying or punishment.
running – in running order	In working condition.
running – in/out of the running	Still considered a contender / no longer being considered.
rush – rush one’s fences	Act too hastily, especially in judgment.
sad – sadder but wiser	Wiser after a painful lesson.
safety – safety in numbers	Being in a group reduces risk.
salt – worth one’s salt	Competent; deserving one’s pay.
same – same to you	And the same to you (returning a wish or remark).
save – save one’s breath	Don’t bother speaking; it won’t help.
save – save one’s skin	Protect oneself from harm or blame.
save – save the day	Avert failure at the crucial moment.
scene – behind the scenes	Privately; out of public view.
scene – hit the scene	Appear or become active/visible.
scene – not one’s scene	Not to one’s taste or interest.
score – on that score	Regarding that matter.
score – settle a score	Take revenge or redress a past grievance.
scrape – in a scrape	In a difficult or awkward situation.
scrape – scrape the barrel	Use the poorest remaining option.
scratch – scratch a living	Earn barely enough to live on.
scratch – scratch one’s head	Be puzzled; ponder a solution.
scratch – scratch the surface	Address only a small or obvious part of something.
scratch – up to scratch	Meeting the required standard.
second – second to none	The very best.
seller – a seller’s market	Demand exceeds supply; sellers have the advantage.
sense – make sense of	Understand; interpret.
serve – serve a sentence	Spend time in prison.
serve – serve one’s country	Perform military or public service.
serve – serve someone right	Be a deserved outcome (often of punishment).
service – be of service	Be helpful; available to help.
set – be set on	Be determined to do or obtain.
shadow – shadow of death	Extreme danger or near-death peril.
shelf – off the shelf	Ready-made; available immediately.
shelf – on the shelf	Unused or neglected; figuratively sidelined.
shit – be shitting bricks	Be extremely anxious or terrified (vulgar).
shit – full of shit	Talking nonsense; lying (vulgar).
shit – in the shit	In serious trouble (vulgar).
shoestring – on a shoestring	With very little money.
short – in short supply	Scarce; hard to get.
short – short of breath	Breathless; having difficulty breathing.
shot – a long shot	An unlikely attempt that might succeed.
shot – a parting shot	A final, often sharp, remark on leaving.
shoulder – shoulder to shoulder	United; in solidary support.
sick – sick to death	Utterly fed up.
sight – at first sight	On first encounter or impression.
sight – raise one’s sights	Set higher goals or ambitions.
sinew – sinews of war	Resources—especially money—needed to wage war.
six – at sixes and sevens	In confusion or disorder.
skin – skin and bone, be	Extremely thin.
skin – skin someone alive	Punish or scold very severely.
sleep – put to sleep	Anesthetize; euthanize an animal humanely.
sleep – sleep a wink	Get any sleep at all (usually in negatives).
sleep – sleep on it	Delay a decision until the next day.
slip – let something slip	Reveal something inadvertently.
slip – slip a disc	Herniate an intervertebral disc.
slip – slip of the tongue	A verbal mistake.
slip – slip one’s mind/memory	Be forgotten.
slog – slog it out	Fight or compete through hard, sustained effort.
sly – on the sly	Secretly; stealthily.
smell – smell a rat	Suspect deception or trouble.
snap – in a snap	Instantly; immediately.
son – son of a bitch	A strong insult; sometimes jocular (vulgar).
son – son of a gun	Mild exclamation or term of address, affectionate or reproachful.
sort – a sort of	Kind of; an approximate description.
sort – in some sort	To some extent (archaic/rare).
sort – of a sort/of sorts	Makeshift; of inferior or unusual kind.
sort – out of sorts	Irritable or slightly unwell.
sort – sort of	Somewhat; to a degree.
spare – spare no expense	Spend whatever is necessary.
sparks – sparks will fly	A fierce argument or activity will erupt.
speak – on speaking terms	Friendly or acquainted enough to talk.
speak – so to speak	Not literally; in a manner of speaking.
speak – speak evil/ill/well of	Criticize / praise someone.
speak – speak one’s mind	Say exactly what one thinks.
spick – spick and span	Spotlessly clean and neat.
spill – spill one’s guts	Confess everything; divulge a lot of information.
spill – spill the beans	Reveal a secret.
spin – spin a story/yarn	Tell an elaborate, often deceptive, tale.
split – a split second	An instant; a very brief moment.
split – split one’s sides	Laugh uncontrollably.
sport – be a sport	Be good-natured and helpful; comply with a request.
spout – up the spout	Ruined or wasted; (Brit., dated) pregnant.
spread – spread one’s wings	Broaden one’s experience or independence.
staff – staff of life	Staple food, especially bread.
stand – I stand corrected	I admit I was wrong.
stand – stand in line	Wait in a queue.
stand – stand one’s ground	Refuse to yield; maintain one’s position.
start – for a start	To begin with; as one initial point.
start – to start with	At the beginning; initially.
state – state of affairs	Situation; set of circumstances.