Idioms P-R

Par for the course

usual or to be expected; typical

pass the buck

to redirect the blame or responsibility for something (usually a decision) to someone else

pay the piper

to pay for one’s mistakes; to live with the consequences of one’s (wrong) action

pay through the nose

to pay a great amount; to pay too much

pencil/paper pusher

an office worker; a bureaucrat who routinely does his or her paperwork job without any desire to advance

peter out

to disappear gradually

pink slip

notice that one has been fired from one’s job

play it by ear

to go along with a situation as it develops before deciding what to do; to do something without prior planning

play second fiddle

to be in a subordinate position; to have a lower rank or standing than someone else

pound of flesh

a (figuratively) painful payment of a debt

pull the wool over (someone’s) eyes

to deceive or fool someone

pull up stakes

to collect one’s household belongings and leave one’s house or property; to move to another place

pull all (one’s) eggs in one basket

to invest all one’s hopes or plans in only one possible outcome

put (one’s) money where (one’s) mouth is

to support what one is saying by risking or spending money; to demonstrate in action what one says one can do

put the cart before the horse

to reverse the necessary or expected order of two things; to put a later step first

put the squeeze/ screws on/ to

to apply pressure on someone to do something; to force or coerce someone

raise cain

to cause a disturbance, often because one is extremely angry; to make trouble

rake (someone)/ get raked over the coals

to reprimand or criticize someone harshly

rank and file

the non-management workers in a company or the non-leadership members of a political party

read (someone) the riot act

to reprimand or scold someone harshly

real mccoy, the

the genuine article; not an imitation or substitution

red herring

something used to divert someone’s attention from the real or important issue; something used to send a searcher in the wrong direction

red-letter day

an important day; a day to remember

red tape

the unnecessary paperwork and procedures of a complicated bureaucracy

rest on (one’s) laurels

to be so satisfied with what one has already accomplished that one no longer works very hard

rub elbows with (someone)

to associate with someone; to come into contact with someone

run amok

to run around in a frenzied or disorderly way