Idioms beginning with C

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kick against the pricks

Meaning: Resisting authority or control in a way that only causes oneself pain or harm.

Example: He kept kicking against the pricks, even when he knew the rules wouldn't change. Read more ➺


circle back

Meaning: Return to a previous location or state: To go back to a place or condition one was in before.

Example: I circled back to the house to get my briefcase Read more ➺


cream of the crop

Meaning: Denotes the very best individuals or items in a group.

Example: The university's scholarship program attracts the cream of the crop from high schools nationwide. Read more ➺


cooked

Meaning: Describes something or someone beyond saving—completely broken, finished, or morally lost.

Example: With AI doing everything for them, this generation is cooked. Read more ➺


cuffing season

Meaning: A period in fall and winter when people seek short-term relationships for companionship.

Example: As the leaves began to fall, she realized cuffing season was in full swing. Read more ➺


close knit

Meaning: Describes a group with strong emotional bonds and mutual support.

Example: Our close-knit family always supports each other during tough times. Read more ➺


cut off one’s nose to spite one’s face

Meaning: An excessive or irrational reaction to a problem that makes the situation worse.

Example: Don’t let your anger make you cut off your nose to spite your face. Read more ➺


chef’s kiss

Meaning: An expression of perfection or high quality, often shown by kissing the fingertips.

Example: The final scene of the movie was chef's kiss — absolutely flawless. Read more ➺


come a long way

Meaning: To achieve a much higher level of success than in the past. For example, an individual who began as a junior employee and is now a company executive has come a long way.


coffee badging

Meaning: The act of employees briefly visiting the office to register their presence, often by swiping their access badge, before departing to work remotely.

Example: Many employees practice coffee-badging to satisfy in-office attendance policies while working remotely. Read more ➺


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