Idioms Beginning with o

• odds and ends

  Miscellaneous things.
  In the attic, there is a box full of odds and ends.

• off one's rocker

  To be crazy.
  He's off his rocker if he thinks I will help him move again.

• off the cuff

  Without preparation; impromptu
  At the awards ceremony, his speech was entirely off the cuff.

• off the mark

  Inaccurate, wrong.
  The vice president's comments on the war are consistently off the mark.

• off the top of one's head

  Without great thought, investigation or any sort of preparation.
  Off the top of my head, I can't think of anyone who is a better painter than Max.

• on a roll

  On a streak of continuous progress or success.
  The team is on a roll. They've won five games in a row.

• on edge

  Anxious, tense, nervous or irritable
  I've been on edge lately. I've been drinking too much coffee.

• on one's toes

  Alert, prepared, ready, or attentive.
  In this job, things happen so fast that you must always be on your toes.

• on the back burner

  Not the main priority; inactive; on hold.
  I've put that project on the back burner until I have more time.

• on the ball

  Being alert, efficient, or competent.
  The new employee is really on the ball. She's already contributing great ideas.

• on the blink

  Broken, out of order, inoperative (electronic or mechanical devices).
  The freezer in on the blink again. Everything has thawed out or melted.

• on the button

  Exactly, precisely.
  We're meeting at 11:00 on the button.

• on the dot

  Exactly, precisely.
  The meeting starts at 11:00 on the dot.

• on the fence

  To be undecided.
  I am still on the fence about which job to take.

• on the level

  Honest, sincere and straightforward
  I wouldn't trust Miguel. He may seem on the level, but he's not.

• on the line

  At risk; in danger.
  I really need to do well on this project because my job is on the line.

• one's bark is worse than one's bite

  The particular person seems more aggressive and mean than he really is.
  Don't worry about the boss. His bark is worse than his bite.

• one's lips are sealed

  To keep a secret; to not reveal a secret.
  My lips are sealed. I won't tell anyone about it.

• out of line

  Inappropriate, improper, wrong.
  Max was really out of line when he asked the woman how much she weighed.

• out of the blue

  Unexpectedly; without warning; suddenly.
  Out of the blue, Max asks Mary for a divorce.

• out of the question

  Impossible; not worth even considering.
  We have no money. A new car is out of the question at this point.

• out of work

  Unemployed.
  I'm out of work at the moment.