Written by In English, idioms are phrases used to say things which have figurative meanings different from their literal meaning.
There are many idioms that begin with the letter “C,” each with its own unique meaning.
We will look at idioms that begin with C in this post.
Forthwith, Let’s get started.
- Can of Worms
- Meaning – This refers to a situation that is likely to become complicated, messy, or controversial. In other words, it is used to describe a situation where opening it up may lead to unintended consequences or raise new and difficult issues.
- Examples:
- Investigating the alleged corruption in the government could open up a can of worms and cause even more problems.
- I was thinking of starting a new project, but my colleague warned me that it could be a real can of worms.
- Can’t get enough
- Meaning – The idiom “can’t get enough” refers to a strong desire for something, to the point where one is never satisfied or enough. It’s used to express a strong enthusiasm or craving for something because one greatly enjoys it.
- Examples:
- I love spaghetti. I just can’t get enough of it! I could eat it every day.
- His thousands of fans can’t get enough of him.
- Can’t stand the sight of
- Meaning – This is an expression used to say that one has an intense dislike or hatred for someone or something to the point where the mere sight of them is unpleasant or unbearable. It’s often used to describe a strong emotional hatred for someone or something that one finds distasteful or revolting.
- Examples:
- I can’t stand the sight of my ex-boyfriend. Every time I see him, it just brings back unpleasant memories.
- I’ve never been a fan of spaghetti and onions. I can’t stand the sight of it, let alone eat it.
- Call a spade a spade
- Meaning – It is used to tell someone to speak the truth. It is used to tell someone to say things as they really are, without trying to hide or sugarcoat the truth.
- Examples:
- She has a reputation for calling a spade a spade, and her boss loves her for it.
- I appreciate that my boss always calls a spade a spade, rather than beating around the bush in meetings.
- Call an audible
- Meaning – Call an audible refers to any situation where a person changes their plans or strategy at the last minute, often in response to some new information or development. The phrase originates from American football, where a quarterback may change the play at the line of scrimmage in response to the defence.
- Examples:
- The teacher calls an audible when the lesson plan she prepared isn’t working and decides to switch to a different teaching method that will better engage the students.
- The CEO of XYZ company calls an audible and decides to take a different marketing strategy.
- Call it a day
- Meaning – It means to stop doing something for the day. It also means to cease doing an activity or to retire. It is often used as a way of signalling the end of a workday or the end of a task.
- Examples:
- The children were tired after playing all day, so their parents called it a day and sent them to bed.
- After working late into the night, the construction crew decided to call it a day and return the next morning.
- Calm before the storm
- Meaning – This refers to a brief period of quiet or stillness that precedes a disturbing or crisis situation. It refers to a period of peace that precedes a coming event or situation that is expected to be difficult, intense, or chaotic. It suggests that although things may seem peaceful or normal at the moment, there is a sense of unease or anticipation that something is about to change.
- Examples:
- The general meeting may be peaceful now, but this is only the calm before the storm.
- The weather was clear and sunny, but the local news warned that it was calm before the storm and that a big hurricane was expected to hit the area soon.
- Canary in a coal mine
- Meaning – This refers to a warning or an indicator of potential danger or trouble. The phrase originates from the practice of using canaries in coal mines to detect toxic gases, such as carbon monoxide. If the canary died, it indicated that the air in the mine was poisonous, and the miners would evacuate.
- Examples:
- The rapid spread of the new virus was seen as a canary in a coal mine, warning the world that a pandemic was imminent.
- The rising levels of pollution in the river were seen as a canary in a coal mine, warning the community that their health was at risk.
- Cap in hand
- Meaning – It means to approach someone humbly and in a respectful manner, especially when asking for help or assistance. It implies that the person is seeking help and is willing to accept whatever terms or conditions are offered.
- Examples:
- We are no longer required to go cap in hand to the banks if we wanted money.
- After losing his job, the man went to the bank cap in hand, asking for a loan to help support his family.
- Carry a torch for
- Meaning – This means to love or have strong feelings of affection for someone, often in a romantic sense.
- Examples:
- He carried a torch for his former girlfriend, and always hoped that one day she would come back to him.
- She had carried a torch for her high school sweetheart for years, even though he was married to someone else.
- Carry coals to Newcastle
- Meaning – This means to do something that is unneeded or redundant. It is a phrase used to describe a pointless or unnecessary action. The phrase originated from the city of Newcastle in England, which was famous for its coal mines in the 16th and 17th centuries. Carrying coals to Newcastle, therefore, meant bringing a commodity to a place where it was already abundant, making the act redundant and inefficient.
- Examples:
- Donating books to a library that already has a vast collection is like carrying coals to Newcastle.
- Offering to bring snacks to a movie theatre that already sells them is like carrying coals to Newcastle.
- Carry one’s weight
- Meaning –To carry one weight is to contribute a fair share or do a part in a group effort.
- Examples:
- In a football team, every player is expected to carry their weight and do their part on the field.
- In a group project, each member should carry their weight and do their part to ensure the project is completed on time and to a high standard.
- Carry someone’s water
- Meaning – To carry someone’s water is to support or defend their ideas or actions. The phrase typically has a negative connotation and suggests that the person doing the “carrying” is acting subserviently or blindly following the other person without questioning their motives or ideas.
- Examples:
- I’m tired of carrying my boss’s water in meetings. He never gives me credit for my ideas, but always expects me to support his.
- He hates his job. He has to carry his boss’s water or risk getting fired!
- Carry the can
- Meaning – This means to take responsibility for a problem or situation, especially when one is not entirely to blame.
- Examples:
- I think it’s unfair that the salesperson has to carry the can for the department’s poor performance. The whole team needs to take responsibility.
- As usual, he was left to carry the can.
- Cash in one’s ship
- Meaning – This is an expression, which means to quit or discontinue an activity, accepting whatever gains or losses one has incurred.
- Examples:
- After losing all his money in the stock market, Bill cashed in his chips and decided to take a break from investing.
- When the team realized that they were not going to win the championship, they cashed in their ships and focused on preparing for the next season.
- Cast pearls before swine
- Meaning – It means to give something valuable to someone who is unable or unwilling to appreciate its value. It is often used to describe a situation in which someone is trying to share something important or valuable with someone who is not receptive to it, or who will not understand its significance.
- Examples:
- She did not value what should be valued, I see i was casting pearls before swine.
- Cast the first stone
- Meaning – To cast the first stone is to be the first to accuse or criticize someone, especially when someone is not entirely blameless. The idiom “cast the first stone” comes from a story in the Christian Bible, in which Jesus prevented a group of people from stoning a woman who had committed adultery by challenging them: “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7). The phrase has since been used more broadly to suggest that someone should not be quick to judge or criticize others for their mistakes or flaws if they have their own shortcomings.
- Examples:
- The governor knew he couldn’t cast the first stone as he had some weaknesses.
- After a colleague made a mistake in the project, the coworkers were quick to criticize him in front of the rest of the team. The manager reminded them that nobody is perfect, and told them not to cast the first stone.
- Castle in the air
- Meaning – This is often used to describe a desire, idea or plan that is unlikely to ever be realized. It implies that the idea or plan is so unrealistic, far-fetched or near impossibility.
- Examples:
- James spends all his time dreaming up castles in the air instead of focusing on practical solutions to his problems.
- Elizabeth had always dreamed of travelling the world and becoming a famous writer, but she knew that those were just castles in the air.
- Catch heat
- Meaning –To catch heat is to get into trouble with somebody. It can also refer to a situation in which someone receives criticism or negative feedback for something they have done or said.
- Examples:
- The politician caught heat from the public after making a controversial statement.
- Catch someone’s drift
- Meaning – The idiom catch someone’s drift is often used to indicate that someone has understood or comprehended the meaning or implication of what another person is saying, even if it is not explicitly stated. It means understanding a person understands the meaning or intention of the pronouncement of someone.
- Examples:
- I’m not sure I follow what you’re saying, but I think I’m starting to catch your drift.
- I didn’t want to come right out and say it, but I think you’re catching my drift.
