Idioms Beginning with S
- scared to death
- Extremely frightened
Max is scared to death of being alone with Mary.
- scope out
- To scout; to investigate; to check out.
We scoped out the perfect location for our beach party.
- scratch the surface
- To treat superficially; to barely begin.
Finished? We haven't even scratched the surface yet. There is a lot more to do.
- see eye to eye
- To agree; to have similar views; to get along.
Max and Mary rarely see eye to eye on anything.
- see red
- To become very angry; to be furious.
Max saw red when he found out that Mary went to Paris with John.
- sell like hot cakes
- To sell fast
Astronaut diapers are selling like hot cakes.
- set straight
- To correct with accurate information.
The presidential candidates seem to have their facts wrong. Someone needs to set them straight.
- shake a leg
- To hurry; to get going.
Let's shake a leg! We need to finish this project today.
- shoot the breeze
- To talk or converse idly.
Do you want to have a cup of coffee and shoot the breeze for a while?
- shrug off
- To disregard; to minimize the importance of something.
Max shrugged off Mary's accusations and went on with his normal routine.
- sit tight
- To wait patiently.
Just sit tight; the hot dog vender will be by in a few minutes.
- sitting pretty
- To be in a good financial situation.
Once we get the insurance money, we'll be sitting pretty.
- slip of the tongue
- A mistake in speaking.
For a politician, a simple slip of the tongue can be detrimental.
- slip one's mind
- To forget; to overlook.
I was supposed to do some homework last night, but it totally slipped my mind.
- smell a rat
- To suspect trickery or deception
Something is not right. I smell a rat.
- spill the beans
- To reveal a secret.
We were going to surprise Max with a party, but somebody spilled the beans.
- stand one's ground
- To firmly maintain one's opinion or position.
Everyone in the room disagreed with Mary, but she stood her ground.
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