Idioms beginning with S

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status quo

Meaning: the existing condition

Example: The countries are now trying to maintain a status quo with regards to their nuclear arsenal which will help them if the situation gets any worse. Read more ➺


stack the deck

Meaning: to be against someone or something

Example: The manager had stacked the deck against me but I was able to prove through the system that the error could be apportioned to me. Read more ➺


strive to do

Meaning: to try very hard to achieve

Example: This is perhaps the only politician that I have come across who strives to do what he promised. Read more ➺


suited and booted

Meaning: formally dressed; well dressed

Example: The party was all suited and booted to go out tonight but then the weather caught on and everything had to be cancelled. Read more ➺


scot-free

Meaning: to be rid of all the blame (of something or incident)

Example: The person went scot-free even though there were many people convinced of his crime because the evidence against him was circumstantial. Read more ➺


saved by the bell

Meaning: to be saved from losing because there is a signal of the event coming to an end

Example: The accused was saved by the bell otherwise the judge would have pronounced the sentence today itself. Read more ➺


riding shotgun

Meaning: to provide active aid to someone

Example: This politician is a sitting shotgun for his brother's company. It is sad to see that he is using his political influence for his own purposes. Read more ➺


sixth sense

Meaning: to have an intuition about something

Example: The man has a great sixth sense and manages his business just on his intuition. Read more ➺


skid row

Meaning: a bad locality which houses flophouses, run down hotels and cheap salons

Example: The place is neither skid row nor a main street. You will have to look it up on the maps to find it. Read more ➺


smell something fishy

Meaning: to have a suspicion that something is wrong

Example: The manager smelled something fishy and started an investigation. He eventually found that 3 of the 4 employees were stealing from the store. Read more ➺


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