Idioms beginning with P
Meaning: a payment system that allows you to pay right before a service you use rather than later.
Example: When it comes to mobile phone contracts, seven out of ten customers opt for pay-as-you-go plans. Read on
Meaning: prepare for disaster
Example: Dad's fishing pole dove into the lake without warning, and he hit the panic button before jumping up with the reel-spinning like crazy in his hand. Read on
Meaning: be open and honest
Example: When John met up with Jane on their first date, John laid his cards on the table for Jane to know what he wanted. Read on
Meaning: to play with or tease someone
Example: The cops do not like playing cat and mouse games with the culprits before catching them. Read on
Meaning: passing blame to another person
Example: That particular supervisor tends to pass the buck of all light duties to newly hired interns. Read on
Meaning: say something (by mistake) that upsets, humiliates, or embarrasses someone
Example: Carla put her foot right in it when she congratulated her neighbour on being pregnant. It turns out she's not expecting but had just put on weight. Read on
Meaning: something that is a basic or essential element of the whole
Example: Darkness is part and parcel of the night. Read on
Meaning: try to calm, soothe or placate a problematic situation
Example: She's such a calm person; last week, the whole office was in uproar until she stepped in and poured oil on troubled waters. Read on
Meaning: to agree by word of mouth only
Example: He paid lip service to the cause, but he hasn't lent a hand yet. Read on
Meaning: easier to stop problems than correct them later
Example: It is good to keep vaccinations up to date as prevention is better than cure. Read on
