Idioms Beginning With S

The letter S is a treasure trove for spicing up your speech! Idioms that begin with S offer a vast range of expressions, from everyday situations to powerful metaphors. Let’s delve into this world and enrich your vocabulary:

Idioms Beginning With S with Meaning and Example

Here’s a list of “Idioms Beginning With S” in English:

Safe and sound

Meaning: Unharmed and healthy
Example: “They returned from their trip safe and sound.”

Salt of the earth

Meaning: A very good and honest person
Example: “My grandmother is the salt of the earth; she always helps others.”

Saved by the bell

Meaning: Rescued from a difficult situation just in time
Example: “The fire alarm rang and he was saved by the bell from answering a difficult question.”

Scared stiff

Meaning: Extremely frightened
Example: “She was scared stiff during the horror movie.”

Scot-free

Meaning: Without suffering any punishment or harm
Example: “The criminal got away scot-free despite his crimes.”

Second wind

Meaning: A new burst of energy after feeling tired
Example: “After a short break, the runner got his second wind and finished the race strong.”

See eye to eye

Meaning: To agree fully with someone
Example: “They finally saw eye to eye on the business deal.”

See red

Meaning: To become very angry
Example: “When he saw the damage to his car, he saw red.”

See the light

Meaning: To understand something clearly
Example: “After the explanation, he finally saw the light.”

See the writing on the wall

Meaning: To foresee inevitable trouble
Example: “He saw the writing on the wall and sold the business before it went bankrupt.”

Sell like hotcakes

Meaning: To sell quickly and in large quantities
Example: “The new video game is selling like hotcakes.”

Shape up or ship out

Meaning: Improve your behavior or leave
Example: “The boss told the lazy employee to shape up or ship out.”

Shoot the breeze

Meaning: To chat informally
Example: “We sat on the porch and shot the breeze all afternoon.”

Short and sweet

Meaning: Brief but pleasant
Example: “His speech was short and sweet.”

Show your true colors

Meaning: To reveal your real character
Example: “He showed his true colors when he refused to help.”

Sick as a dog

Meaning: Very ill
Example: “She was sick as a dog after eating the bad sushi.”

Sitting duck

Meaning: An easy target
Example: “Without a defense system, the base was a sitting duck.”

Sixth sense

Meaning: A special ability to sense things
Example: “She seemed to have a sixth sense for danger.”

Skeletons in the closet

Meaning: Secrets from the past
Example: “Every family has its skeletons in the closet.”

Skid row

Meaning: A run-down part of a town
Example: “He ended up living on skid row after losing his job.”

Sky’s the limit

Meaning: There is no limit to what someone can achieve
Example: “With your talent, the sky’s the limit.”

Sleep like a log

Meaning: To sleep very soundly
Example: “I slept like a log last night after the long hike.”

Slow and steady wins the race

Meaning: Consistent, steady effort leads to success
Example: “She took her time on the project, believing that slow and steady wins the race.”

Small potatoes

Meaning: Something insignificant
Example: “The amount of money he lost was small potatoes compared to his total wealth.”

Smell a rat

Meaning: To suspect something is wrong
Example: “I smell a rat; this deal seems too good to be true.”

Smoke and mirrors

Meaning: Deceptive explanation or description
Example: “The company’s success was all smoke and mirrors.”

Smooth sailing

Meaning: Easy progress
Example: “After we fixed the engine, it was smooth sailing.”

Snowball effect

Meaning: When something grows in significance or size at an accelerating rate
Example: “The protest started small, but the snowball effect took over.”

Sour grapes

Meaning: Pretending to dislike something you can’t have
Example: “His comments about the award being worthless were just sour grapes.”

Spare the rod and spoil the child

Meaning: If you don’t discipline children, they will become spoiled
Example: “My parents believed in ‘spare the rod and spoil the child.'”

Speak of the devil

Meaning: When the person you were talking about arrives
Example: “Speak of the devil! We were just talking about you.”

Spill the beans

Meaning: To reveal a secret
Example: “He spilled the beans about the surprise party.”

Split hairs

Meaning: To argue about small details
Example: “Let’s not split hairs over the color of the invitations.”

Spread like wildfire

Meaning: To spread rapidly
Example: “The rumor spread like wildfire.”

Square peg in a round hole

Meaning: A person who doesn’t fit into their environment
Example: “He felt like a square peg in a round hole at the corporate office.”

Squeaky wheel gets the grease

Meaning: The most noticeable problems are the ones that get attention
Example: “The squeaky wheel gets the grease, so you need to speak up.”

Stand your ground

Meaning: To maintain your position
Example: “She stood her ground during the negotiations.”

Stark raving mad

Meaning: Completely crazy
Example: “He went stark raving mad when he lost his job.”

Steal someone’s thunder

Meaning: To take attention away from someone else’s achievements
Example: “She stole my thunder by announcing her promotion right after I announced my engagement.”

Step up to the plate

Meaning: To take responsibility
Example: “It’s time for you to step up to the plate and take on more responsibility.”

Stick to your guns

Meaning: To refuse to change your beliefs or actions
Example: “He stuck to his guns despite the criticism.”

Stiff upper lip

Meaning: To show courage in the face of adversity
Example: “She kept a stiff upper lip throughout the ordeal.”

Stir the pot

Meaning: To cause trouble or controversy
Example: “He loves to stir the pot during meetings.”

Stone’s throw

Meaning: A short distance
Example: “The store is just a stone’s throw from my house.”

Storm in a teacup

Meaning: A lot of fuss about something trivial
Example: “Their argument was just a storm in a teacup.”

Straight from the horse’s mouth

Meaning: Directly from the source
Example: “I heard the news straight from the horse’s mouth.”

Strike while the iron is hot

Meaning: To take advantage of an opportunity while it lasts
Example: “We should strike while the iron is hot and invest now.”

Strong suit

Meaning: Something at which someone excels
Example: “Math has always been his strong suit.”

Stuck in a rut

Meaning: In a boring routine
Example: “He’s been stuck in a rut since he started his new job.”

Sweep under the rug

Meaning: To hide something, usually something embarrassing
Example: “They tried to sweep the scandal under the rug.”

Swim against the tide

Meaning: To do something contrary to the trend
Example: “He likes to swim against the tide and follow his own path.”

Swings and roundabouts

Meaning: A situation that has as many disadvantages as advantages
Example: “It’s all swings and roundabouts with this new policy.”

Swing for the fences

Meaning: To go all out; to try to achieve the best possible outcome
Example: “In his new job, he decided to swing for the fences.”

Sworn enemy

Meaning: Someone who is considered a permanent enemy
Example: “He has been his sworn enemy since childhood.”

Sweet tooth

Meaning: A love for sugary foods
Example: “She has a sweet tooth and can’t resist chocolate.”

Sweeten the deal

Meaning: To make an offer more attractive
Example: “They offered free shipping to sweeten the deal.”

Sweep someone off their feet

Meaning: To overwhelm someone with love or enthusiasm
Example: “He swept her off her feet with his charm.”

Swallow your pride

Meaning: To humble yourself
Example: “He had to swallow his pride and apologize.”

Sword of Damocles

Meaning: A looming threat
Example: “The debt was a sword of Damocles over his head.”

Systemic risk

Meaning: The risk inherent to the entire market or market segment
Example: “Investors are concerned about systemic risk.”

Sacred cow

Meaning: Something that is immune from criticism
Example: “The new policy is treated as a sacred cow by management.”

Saving grace

Meaning: A redeeming quality
Example: “Her kindness was her saving grace.”

Scare the living daylights out of someone

Meaning: To frighten someone severely
Example: “The horror movie scared the living daylights out of me.”

Scorched earth (tactics, policy, etc.)

Meaning: A strategy that involves destroying anything useful to the enemy
Example: “The company employed a scorched earth policy during the takeover.”

Screw the pooch

Meaning: To make a big mistake
Example: “He really screwed the pooch on that project.”

School of hard knocks

Meaning: Learning through difficult experiences
Example: “He graduated from the school of hard knocks.”

Second banana

Meaning: The second most important person in a group
Example: “He’s always been content being the second banana.”

Second stringer

Meaning: A substitute or backup
Example: “The second stringers played well during the game.”

Second wind

Meaning: A new burst of energy
Example: “After a short rest, he got his second wind.”

See eye to eye

Meaning: To agree fully
Example: “They finally saw eye to eye on the issue.”

See something out of the corner of your eye

Meaning: To notice something without looking directly at it
Example: “I saw something move out of the corner of my eye.”

Seize (take) the bull by the horns

Meaning: To deal with a difficult situation directly
Example: “She decided to seize the bull by the horns and confront her boss.”

Seize the day

Meaning: To take advantage of the present moment
Example: “He decided to seize the day and start his own business.”

Sell (someone) a bill of goods

Meaning: To deceive someone
Example: “He sold her a bill of goods about the car’s condition.”

Sell like hotcakes

Meaning: To sell quickly and in large quantities
Example: “The new product is selling like hotcakes.”

Selling point

Meaning: A feature that makes something attractive
Example: “The price is the main selling point of this phone.”

Set in stone

Meaning: Unchangeable
Example: “The schedule is not set in stone and can be adjusted.”

Set something to music

Meaning: To put words to music
Example: “He set the poem to music.”

Set the bar (too) high

Meaning: To establish a high standard
Example: “His performance set the bar too high for the rest of us.”

Set the Thames on fire

Meaning: To do something remarkable
Example: “He didn’t exactly set the Thames on fire with his performance.”

Set the world on fire

Meaning: To do something outstanding
Example: “Her new book has set the world on fire.”

Shake the dust off your shoes (feet)

Meaning: To leave a place and not return
Example: “He shook the dust off his shoes and never looked back.”

Shape up or ship out

Meaning: Improve your behavior or leave
Example: “The boss told him to shape up or ship out.”

Sharp as a tack

Meaning: Very intelligent
Example: “She’s as sharp as a tack and catches on quickly.”

Shell game

Meaning: A deceptive and evasive action or plan
Example: “The company’s accounting practices were nothing but a shell game.”

Shift gears

Meaning: To change your approach
Example: “We need to shift gears and try a different strategy.”

Shipshape and Bristol fashion

Meaning: In good order; neat and clean
Example: “The house was shipshape and Bristol fashion for the party.”

Shit a brick

Meaning: To be very surprised or shocked
Example: “He nearly shit a brick when he saw the bill.”

Shoot from the hip

Meaning: To speak or act without thinking
Example: “He tends to shoot from the hip, which sometimes gets him in trouble.”

Shoot off one’s mouth

Meaning: To talk too much or boast
Example: “He was shooting off his mouth about his promotion.”

Shoot oneself in the foot

Meaning: To harm oneself unintentionally
Example: “He really shot himself in the foot by quitting his job.”

Short fuse

Meaning: A quick temper
Example: “Be careful what you say around him; he has a short fuse.”

Shot across the bow

Meaning: A warning
Example: “The letter was a shot across the bow from the company.”

Shoulder a weight off your shoulders

Meaning: To relieve oneself of a burden
Example: “Finishing the project took a weight off my shoulders.”

Show me an X and I’ll show you a Y

Meaning: To demonstrate a comparison or relationship
Example: “Show me a person who never made a mistake and I’ll show you someone who never tried anything new.”

Show one’s true colors

Meaning: To reveal one’s true character
Example: “He showed his true colors when he refused to help.”

Show your cards

Meaning: To reveal your intentions
Example: “It’s time to show your cards and tell us your plan.”

Sick and tired of

Meaning: Completely fed up
Example: “I’m sick and tired of his excuses.”

Sick as a dog

Meaning: Very ill
Example: “He was sick as a dog after eating that seafood.”

Sick as a parrot

– Meaning: Very disappointed
– Example: “He was sick as a parrot when his team lost.”

Sight for sore eyes

– Meaning: A welcome sight
– Example: “After a long day, a cup of tea is a sight for sore eyes.”

Silver bullet

– Meaning: A simple solution to a complex problem
– Example: “There’s no silver bullet for this issue.”

Simmer down

– Meaning: To become calm
– Example: “Everyone needs to simmer down and discuss the issue calmly.”

Sink or swim

– Meaning: To fail or succeed by one’s own efforts
– Example: “When you start your own business, it’s sink or swim.”

Sing a different tune

– Meaning: To change one’s opinion
– Example: “He was against the idea, but now he’s singing a different tune.”

Sit on (something)

– Meaning: To delay taking action
– Example: “The committee decided to sit on the proposal for a while.”

Sit tight

– Meaning: To wait patiently
– Example: “Sit tight; the doctor will be with you shortly.”

Sitting duck

– Meaning: An easy target
– Example: “Without proper security, the house is a sitting duck.”

Sitting pretty

– Meaning: In a good, advantageous position
– Example: “After the promotion, he’s sitting pretty.”

Six feet under

– Meaning: Dead and buried
– Example: “He’ll be six feet under if he keeps crossing the boss.”

Six of one, a half dozen of the other

– Meaning: Two things are essentially the same
– Example: “Choosing between the two jobs is six of one, half a dozen of the other.”

Six ways to (from) Sunday

– Meaning: In every possible way
– Example: “We’ve examined the plan six ways to Sunday.”

Slam dunk

– Meaning: A sure thing
– Example: “The new product is a slam dunk.”

Sleep like a baby

– Meaning: To sleep very well
– Example: “After the long day, he slept like a baby.”

Sleep with the fishes

– Meaning: To be dead (usually in a violent context)
– Example: “The informant ended up sleeping with the fishes.”

Slip someone a Mickey

– Meaning: To secretly drug someone
– Example: “The spy slipped him a Mickey in his drink.”

Slippery slope

– Meaning: A situation that is likely to become worse
– Example: “Allowing exceptions to the rule is a slippery slope.”

Slower than molasses

– Meaning: Very slow
– Example: “The internet speed today is slower than molasses.”

Small beer

– Meaning: Something insignificant
– Example: “The issue is small beer compared to other problems we face.”

Small fry

– Meaning: Someone or something insignificant
– Example: “In the world of finance, he’s just small fry.”

Small potatoes

– Meaning: Something insignificant
– Example: “The fine is small potatoes compared to the profits they make.”

Smell a rat

– Meaning: To suspect something is wrong
– Example: “I smell a rat; this deal seems too good to be true.”

Smoking gun

– Meaning: Conclusive evidence
– Example: “The emails were the smoking gun in the investigation.”

Snafu –

Meaning: A chaotic or confused situation
– Example: “The event turned into a snafu due to poor planning.”

Snake oil

– Meaning: Deceptive talk or actions
– Example: “The sales pitch was pure snake oil.”

Sneak peek

– Meaning: A quick preview
– Example: “They gave us a sneak peek of the new product.”

Soak up the sun

– Meaning: To enjoy being in the sun
– Example: “We spent the afternoon soaking up the sun on the beach.”

Sold on (something)

– Meaning: Convinced of something’s value
– Example: “I’m sold on the idea of working from home.”

Some eggs

– Meaning: A few minor errors or problems
– Example: “The project went well overall, with only some eggs.”

Someone’s fingerprints are all over (something)

– Meaning: Someone’s influence is evident
– Example: “His fingerprints are all over the new policy.”

Something to crow about

– Meaning: Something to be proud of
– Example: “Winning the award is something to crow about.”

Son of a gun

– Meaning: An expression of surprise or admiration
– Example: “Well, son of a gun! You actually did it.”

Sore point

– Meaning: A sensitive subject
– Example: “His past mistakes are a sore point for him.”

Sour grapes

– Meaning: Pretending to dislike something you can’t have
– Example: “His comments about the award were just sour grapes.”

Spare the rod and spoil the child

– Meaning: If you don’t discipline children, they will become spoiled
– Example: “My parents believed in ‘spare the rod and spoil the child.'”

Speak of the devil (and he shall appear)

– Meaning: When the person you were talking about arrives
– Example: “Speak of the devil! We were just talking about you.”

Speak with a plum in (one’s) mouth

– Meaning: To speak in a way that shows you are from a high social class
– Example: “He speaks with a plum in his mouth, very posh.”

Spick and span

– Meaning: Very clean and tidy
– Example: “The house was spick and span for the guests.”

Spill the beans

– Meaning: To reveal a secret
– Example: “He spilled the beans about the surprise party.”

Spin a yarn

– Meaning: To tell a long, imaginative story
– Example: “He loves to spin a yarn about his adventures.”

Spin one’s wheels

– Meaning: To waste time on unproductive efforts
– Example: “We’re just spinning our wheels with this approach.”

Spit into the wind

Meaning: To do something futile or pointless
Example: “Trying to change his mind is like spitting into the wind.”

Spoiling for a fight

Meaning: Eager or looking for a confrontation
Example: “He was spoiling for a fight after the argument.”

Square the circle

Meaning: To do something seemingly impossible
Example: “Trying to satisfy both parties is like trying to square the circle.”

Stab someone in the back

Meaning: To betray someone
Example: “He trusted her, but she stabbed him in the back.”

Stalking horse

Meaning: A candidate put forward to conceal someone’s real intentions
Example: “He was just a stalking horse to test the waters for the real candidate.”

Stand (someone) in good stead

Meaning: To be of great use to someone
Example: “Her experience in sales will stand her in good stead for the new job.”

Stand on one’s own two feet

Meaning: To be independent and self-sufficient
Example: “It’s time for him to stand on his own two feet and move out of his parents’ house.”

Stand one’s ground

Meaning: To maintain one’s position
Example: “She stood her ground despite the pressure to change her mind.”

Start with a clean slate

Meaning: To begin anew without prejudice
Example: “He decided to start with a clean slate and move to a new city.”

Steal someone’s thunder

Meaning: To take attention away from someone else’s accomplishments
Example: “She stole my thunder by announcing her promotion just before I shared my news.”

Stem the tide

Meaning: To stop the progression of something
Example: “The new policies are designed to stem the tide of illegal immigration.”

Step up one’s game

Meaning: To improve one’s performance or effort
Example: “If you want to win the championship, you’ll need to step up your game.”

Step up to the plate

Meaning: To take responsibility for something
Example: “When the project was failing, she stepped up to the plate to save it.”

Stick it to the man

Meaning: To defy or oppose authority
Example: “The protestors were determined to stick it to the man.”

Stick your nose into something

Meaning: To interfere in something that isn’t your business
Example: “She always sticks her nose into other people’s affairs.”

Sticker shock

Meaning: Surprise at the high price of something
Example: “He experienced sticker shock when he saw the price of the new car.”

Stick-in-the-mud

Meaning: A person who is unwilling to change or try new things
Example: “Don’t be such a stick-in-the-mud; try the new restaurant with us.”

Sticky wicket

Meaning: A difficult or awkward situation
Example: “He’s in a sticky wicket with his boss over the missed deadline.”

Stiff-necked

Meaning: Stubborn or inflexible
Example: “He’s too stiff-necked to admit he made a mistake.”

Storm in a teacup

Meaning: A lot of fuss over something trivial
Example: “The argument was just a storm in a teacup and quickly forgotten.”

Stormy relationship

Meaning: A relationship characterized by frequent arguments and conflicts
Example: “They have a stormy relationship but somehow make it work.”

Stumbling block

Meaning: An obstacle or impediment
Example: “His lack of experience was a stumbling block to getting the job.”

Straight arrow

Meaning: An honest and morally upright person
Example: “He’s a straight arrow and can always be trusted to do the right thing.”

Strain at a gnat and swallow a camel

Meaning: To be concerned with trivial matters while ignoring larger issues
Example: “He’s straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel by focusing on minor details instead of the main problem.”

Strike a chord

Meaning: To resonate or evoke an emotional response
Example: “The speech struck a chord with the audience.”

Sugar daddy

Meaning: An older man who spends money on a younger person in exchange for companionship or intimacy
Example: “She’s dating an older man who spoils her; he’s her sugar daddy.”

Sure-fire

Meaning: Certain to succeed
Example: “This new product is a sure-fire way to boost sales.”

Swan song

Meaning: A final performance or effort
Example: “The retiring CEO’s last project was his swan song.”

Sweep under the carpet

Meaning: To hide something, especially a problem
Example: “They tried to sweep the scandal under the carpet.”

Sweep under the rug

Meaning: To ignore or avoid dealing with a problem
Example: “You can’t just sweep your problems under the rug.”

Sweet dreams!

Meaning: A wish for someone to have a good night’s sleep
Example: “Goodnight and sweet dreams!”

Sweeten the deal

Meaning: To make an offer more attractive
Example: “They offered free shipping to sweeten the deal.”

Sweeten the pot

Meaning: To increase the value or attractiveness of something
Example: “They sweetened the pot by adding a bonus to the job offer.”

Swim against the tide

Meaning: To go against the prevailing opinion or tendency
Example: “She’s always swimming against the tide with her unconventional ideas.”

Swim with sharks

Meaning: To engage with dangerous or unscrupulous people
Example: “In the corporate world, you’ll have to swim with sharks.”

Swim with the fishes

Meaning: To be killed and disposed of in a body of water (usually in a violent context)
Example: “The mob boss warned him that he’d be swimming with the fishes if he didn’t pay up.”

Swing for the fences