Idioms Beginning with P
- pain in the neck
- an annoyance or difficulty.
I wish Max would go away. He is such a pain in the neck.
- paint the town red
- To go on a partying spree; to go wild.
Max and his friends painted the town red this past weekend.
- pay through the nose
- To pay an excessive amount of money.
Real estate prices are very high. For even a small house you have to pay through the nose.
- piece of cake
- Something that is easy or simple to do.
Last night's homework assignment was a piece of cake.
- play it by ear
- To improvise; to do things without a plan.
I'm not sure what we'll do this weekend. We'll just play it by ear.
- play one's cards right
- To make the right moves; to have a good strategy.
If I had played my cards right, I might have gotten that promotion.
- point the finger
- To accuse; to assign blame
I don't want to point the finger at anybody, but somebody forgot to lock the door, Jim.
- pull somebody's leg
- To tease someone; to deceive or fool someone
Don't listen to Miguel. He must have been pulling your leg.
- pull teeth
- To do something very difficult or unpleasant.
Mary says that getting Max to take out the garbage is like pulling teeth.
- put a sock in it
- To be quiet; to stop talking.
Max went on talking trash about everyone until someone finally told him to put a sock in it.
- put one's foot down
- To take a firm stand; to insist, demand, or refuse.
Mary finally put her foot down and said that she wouldn't let anyone borrow money from her again.
- put one's mind to it
- To apply oneself; to channel one's effort toward a particular goal.
If Max put his mind to it, he could achieve anything.
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