Idioms beginning with S

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scrape the bottom of the barrel

Meaning: It is a phrase used to describe something you know is not in good condition, but you have to select it since you don't have an option of choosing the better one.

Example: Our school used to admit more than one thousand candidates, but we feel like we have been scraping the bottom of the barrel with the admitted applicants in late admission. Read more ➺


shoot the breeze

Meaning: spend time chatting, useless talking or chit-chat

Example: They have spent the whole afternoon just shooting the breeze in the office. Read more ➺


stand a chance

Meaning: to have a possibility of succeeding, even if a remote one

Example: Do you believe that you stand a chance of getting that job? Read more ➺


second wind

Meaning: another burst of energy when you had been too tired to finish

Example: Come on, let's have that shovel again. I'm getting a second wind now. Read more ➺


sweep under the rug

Meaning: try to hide a problem or keep a problem secret instead of dealing with it

Example: My father has helped me deal with things instead of sweeping them under the rug. Read more ➺


sponger, sponging, sponge off

Meaning: someone who scrounges from others

Example: Josh has turned up at my house three times this week just as I'm cooking dinner. What a sponger! Read more ➺


storm in a teacup

Meaning: an excessive enthusiasm or rage about a minor matter

Example: I find the whole issue about these gender roles a storm in a teacup. Read more ➺


so far so good

Meaning: progress has been satisfactory up to now

Example: Thanks for asking; so far, so good. Read more ➺


skeleton in the closet

Meaning: a secret of an embarrassing, guilty or shameful nature that you don't want to disclose

Example: I have come to know that Eric has a skeleton in his cupboard. Read more ➺


spill the beans

Meaning: disclose a secret or reveal something prematurely

Example: Lauren finally spilled the beans. She has been promoted to manager, and it's going to upset some people in the office. Read more ➺


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