Idioms about the Sea

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a big fish - an important or influential person
a big fish in a small pond - someone who is important within a small/limited field
a drop in the ocean - a small amount compared to what is expected
a loan shark - a moneylender who charges very high interest rates
a whale of a time - a very enjoyable time
all’s fish that comes to net - you should take advantage of all that comes your way
another kettle of fish - an entirely different thing
any port in a storm - any source of relief or escape in an unfavourable situation
fishy - suspicious
in the doldrums - low-spirited, depressed
like a fish out of water - in an uncomfortable/awkward situation
like shooting fish in a barrel - very easy
neither fish nor fowl - something that is difficult to classify
packed like sardines - crowded
plain sailing - smooth and easy progress
plenty more fish in the sea - there are many other (and possibly more compatible) people in the world
red herring - an intentionally misleading clue or piece of information
the coast is clear - there’s no risk of getting caught
the world is your oyster - you should take advantage of all the opportunities life has to offer you
tip of the iceberg - the small visible part of a much larger and hidden problem
to drink like a fish - to drink a lot of alcohol
to have other/bigger fish to fry - to have other/more important matters to attend to
to keep something at bay - to keep something from happening
to make waves - to create an impression
to rock the boat - to disrupt an existing situation with the intention of causing problems
to run a tight ship - to be very strict about managing something
to stem the tide - to prevent something bad from getting worse
to tide someone over - to help someone get through a difficult time (usually financially)
to turn to tide - to reverse the fashion

If you’ve found this post useful, why not check out our other articles on idioms?

Have a great week!

11 Jul 2016
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Idioms about the Sea

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