C
Idioms beginning with "C"
Part of speech, explanation, example sentences, pronunciation
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Contents of C:
[canary]
See:
[LOOK LIKE THE CAT THAT ATE THE CANARY] or
[LOOK LIKE THE CAT THAT SWALLOWED THE CANARY].
[cancel out] {v.}
To destroy the effect of; balance or make useless.
The boy got an "A" in history to cancel out the "C" he got in arithmetic.
* /Our track team won the mile relay to cancel out the other team's advantage in winning the half-mile […]
[cancer stick] {n.}, {slang}
A cigarette.
Throw away that cancer stick! Smoking is bad for you!
[candle]
See:
[BURN THE CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS],
[GAME IS NOT WORTH THE CANDLE],
[HOLD A CANDLE TO].
[canned heat] {n.}
Chemicals in a can which burn with a hot, smokeless flame.
Some people use canned heat to keep food warm.
The mountain climbers used canned heat for cooking.
[canned laughter] {n.}, {informal}
The sounds of laughter heard on certain television programs that were obviously not recorded in front of a live audience and are played for the benefit of the audience from a stereo track to underscore the funny points. […]
[canned music] {n.}
Recorded music, as opposed to music played live.
"Let us go to a real concert, honey," Mike said. "I am tired of all this canned music we've been listening to."
[can of worms] {n.}, {slang}, {informal}
1. A complex problem, or complicated situation.
Let's not get into big city politics — that's a different can of worms.
2. A very restless, jittery person.
* /Joe can't sit still for a minute — he is a […]
[can't help but] {informal} also {formal} [cannot but] {v. phr.}
To be forced to; can only; must.
When the streets are full of melting snow, you can't help but get your shoes wet.
* /When a friend gave Jim a ticket to the game, he couldn't help […]