1.

call a spade a spade

to be truthful about something, even if it is rude or unpleasant.
Lacy never fears to tell the truth. She calls a spade a spade.
General

2. call it a day
to stop working for the rest of the day.
Why don't we call it a day? I'm really tired.
Time

3. call off the dogs
said when you want someone to stop criticizing you.
Please, call off the dogs. I apologize for what I have done.
Animals

4. call someone names
to call someone by unpleasant, abusive or insulting names.
because he called his teacher names, Bill was punished.
names

5. call the tune
to be the one who controls a situation; to have the most power and authority in a
situation
In any deal you have with banks, it's them who call the tune.
Music

6. calm before the storm
the calm before the storm is an unussual or false quiet period before a period of
upheaval.
The negotiation between the two parties may be peaceful now. But don't be
misled! This is only the calm before the storm.
Nature

7. carrot and stick
an offer involving a reward countered by the threat of punishment.
The president took a carrot and stick approach to the protests against his new
laws.
Food

8. carry the ball
to take charge and control of an activity and be considered reliable enough to do
a job.
He can't carry the ball. He isn't reliable.
sport



9. case in point
an example that illustrates a point
Plaing with these toys can be dangerous. For a case in point, look at what
happened to our neighbor's child.
General

10. case-by-case
Separate and distinct from others of the same kind.
All applications are scrutinized on a case-by-case basis.
Law

11. cash cow
someone or something which is a dependable source of appreciable amounts of
money; a moneymaker.
The type writers production which had been their cash cow for so many years
witnessed a collapse of sales.
animals

12. castles in the air
Plans that are unlikely to happen.
Before you start building castles in the air, just think how much all this is likely to
cost.
Nature

13. cat got your tongue
Why aren't you speaking?
Tell us about the trip. What happened? What's the matter? A cat got your
tongue!
Animals

14. chalk something up to inexperience
To attribute a failure to inexperience and learn from that particular experience.
Chalk it up to inexperience, I guess, but he made a very poor decision.
General

15. chew the fat
To waste time talking or to chat idly.
As she had nothing to do he wasted time chewing the fat with the neighbor.
Food

16. chicken out
To refuse to do something because of fear.
He chickened out just at the time they were taking him to operating theatre.
Animals

17. chicken-hearted
not brave.
They are just chicken-hearted boys. They can't defend themselves from any
attacks.
Animals

18. chin music
talk, conversation
When they meet, there will be plenty of chin music.
Music

19. clock on
To register one's arrival at work
They clocked on as soon as they arrived at work.
Time

20. clock out
(Also clock off) To register one's departure from work.
They clocked out early in order to be on time for the concert.
Time

21. cog in the machine
(also a cog in the wheel) said about one part of a large system or organization
He was just an important cog in the machine of organized crime.
Technology and Science

22. coining it
(also coining money) to be earning a lot of money quickly.
The company has been coining it since the new boss took over.
Money

23. coining money
(also coining it, mintining it) earning a lot of money quickly.
The company has been coining money since the new manager took over.
Money

24. come clean
to be honest and tell the truth.
She came clean about what she had done.
General

25. come down on somebody like a ton of bricks
to hit or punish somebody.
I'll come down on you like a ton of bricks if you do that once again!
Sport

26. come from behind
to win after being in a losing position in a game.
The young boxer came from behind to beat the world champion.
Sport

27. come hell or high water
said when you are determined to do something despite difficulties.
I'll finish my report by midnight, come hell or high water!
Religion

28. come into bloom
to blossom, to start to produce flowers.
Look at the roses are just coming into bloom.
Nature

29. come rain or shine
(Also rain or shine) Regardless of the weather or circumstances.
Don't worry! I'll be on time come rain or shine.
Weather

30. come to blows
to have fight or an argument with someone.
Negotiators are trying not to come into blows over their territorial dispute.
Sport

31. come to terms with
to gradually accept a sad situation.
I think he will come to terms with the death of his wife.
General

32. come to your attention
(also come to your notice) said when you notice something.
It has recently come to the workers attention that changes are taking place in the
company because of financial problems.
General

33. come true
said when something happens although it was unlikely that it would.
Her dream of buying a new car finally came true.
General

34. come under fire
to be subject of criricism.
The president has come under fire for his decision to postpone the elections.
Nature

35. common as an old shoe
(also (as) common as dirt) low class; unrefined; ill-mannered; uncouth.
That girl is common as an old shoe.
General

36. cool as a cucumber
very calm.
It's amazing that he never shows his emotions even when he has a lot of
problems. He's cool as a cucumber.
Food

37. cost an arm and a leg
(also cost a bomb,the earth, a packeta, a small fortune) extremely expensive.
I'd love to buy a Rolls-Royce, but it costs an arm and a leg.
Money

38. couch potato
Lazy person.
He is a couch potato.
Food

39. count one's chickens before they hatch
To assume success too early, before it is certain.
It's too soon to cry victory. Don't count your chicken before they hatch!
Animals

40. cross swords
to quarrel or argue with someone; to have a dispute with someone.
The boss didn't want to cross swords with the workers' union.
War

41. cry wolf
to ask for help when there is really no danger.
Because he cried wolf too often, people stopped believing that he needs help.
Animals

42. curiosity killed the cat
Curiosity killed the cat is a proverb used to warn someone not to be too curious
about something and ask too many questions because this can get you into
trouble.
Alan: I wonder who killed that wealthy man?
Bill: Curiosity killed the cat.
Animals