Phrases.com »

Phrases related to: one-on-one

Yee yee! We've found 3,777 phrases and idioms matching one-on-one.

Sort:RelevancyA - Z
keep one on one's toesTo keep one attentive, active, busy or alert.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
a bird of passageSomeone who never stays long in one place; a wanderer, like a swallow which migrates according to season.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
a closed mouth gathers no feetOne who does not speak can be certain he won't say anything embarrassing.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
a magician never reveals his secretsA refusal to explain how one accomplished something impressive.Rate it:

(5.00 / 2 votes)
a method to one’s madnessThere is a reason, rational purpose, plan, or intention behind one’s seemingly crazy or absurd behaviorRate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
à parti pris pas de conseilAdvice is useless to one who has made up his mind.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
a pyrrhic victoryAn apparent victory, but one which is no victory at all, due to the great cost incurred. The phrase comes from the victory won by King Pyrrhus at Asculum in 279BC which cost him many of his best men. After the battle Pyrrhus remarked: "One more such victory and we are finished."Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
above one's stationOf higher social status than is suitable for one's position, standing or rank.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
acknowledge the cornTo cop a plea; to admit to a small error but not a larger one.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
actions speak louder than wordsPeople will believe what you do more than they will hear what you say. They will not believe you if you say one thing and do something different than what you say..Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
airs and gracesTo act in a pretentious or pompous manner; to put on airs and graces, derogatory term for one acting above their social status.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
aliquem (tertium) ad (in) amicitiam ascribereto admit another into the circle of one's intimates.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
aliquid in usum suum conferreto employ in the furtherance of one's interests.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
all work and no play makes jack a dull boyToo much focus on one's career is often viewed unfavorably.Too much hard work and not enough leisure time can be unhealthy.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
ants in one's pantsTo be sexually excited.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
at heartIn spirit; according to one's beliefs, views or feelings; deep down, really, fundamentally.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
at the end of one's ropeOut of options; having no more options.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
at willAt one's preference; as one sees fit.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
bad pennyA person or thing which is unpleasant, disreputable, or otherwise unwanted, especially one which repeatedly appears at inopportune times.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
bald as a coottotally bald; without any hair on one's head.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
banana republicA small country, especially one in Central America, that is dependent on a single export commodity (traditionally bananas) and that has a corrupt, dictatorial government.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
bear oneselfTo behave and conduct oneself in such a manner that others will give one respect.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
bet dollars to donutsTo suggest that something is very likely to be true or that one has a strong hunch about something.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
bite one's lipTo forcibly prevent oneself from speaking, especially in order to avoid saying something inappropriate or likely to cause a dispute.Rate it:

(5.00 / 2 votes)
blood in the waterIn a competitive situation, the exhibition of apparent weakness or vulnerability by one party, especially when this leads to a feeling of vulnerability or greater pressure to perform on the part of the weak party, and/or enhanced expectation of victory by the other(s).Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
bonnet blanc, blanc bonnettomayto, tomahto; same difference; six of one, half a dozen of the otherRate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
brass ringOne and one half inch diameter iron rings were offered riders on a Carousel by a dispensing device alongside: A Brass Ring was inserted into the dispenser at random. The Carousel Rider who succeeded in snatching the Brass Ring was rewarded A Free Ride upon return to the Operator of the Brass Ring:Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
break one's backTo make a supreme effort.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
breast upTo cut the face of on one side so as to lay bare the principal upright stems of the plants.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
brebis comptées le loup les mangeCounting one’s chickens will not keep the fox off; If you count your chickens, harm will happen to them.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
bring (one's) a-gamerefers to bringing maximum effort, focus and undeniable commitment; an encouragement to do your best with no excuses; giving it your allRate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
bring owls to athensTo undertake a pointless venture, one that is redundant, unnecessary, superfluous, or highly uneconomical.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
bucket listA list of things to accomplish before one's death. [Circa 2007]Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
buckle upTo fasten one's seat belt or safety belt.Rate it:

(5.00 / 6 votes)
butt inTo join a conversation or situation in which one is not welcome or invited; to interjectRate it:

(5.00 / 5 votes)
button one's lipTo remain silent, especially in order to keep a secret or to avoid saying something inappropriate.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
by hook or by crookBy any means possible; one way or another.Rate it:

(5.00 / 2 votes)
by the skin of one's teethBarely; closely; by a narrow margin; with nothing to spare.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
c'est bonnet blanc et blanc bonnetIt is six of one and half-a-dozen of the other.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
can't put the words back into one's mouth fast enoughThis phrase is often said after someone said something they shouldn't have said as a way of conveying regret for having said it.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
cash in one's chipsTo discontinue an activity, accepting whatever gains or losses one has incurred; to give up.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
catch fliesAn ostensible product of awkwardly having one's mouth open wide.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
ce n'est pas à un vieux singe qu'on apprend à faire des grimaces (fam.)One does not teach one’s grandmother to suck eggs. Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
chain reactionA series of events, each one causing the next.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
chase one's tailTo busily try to perform many tasks or to repeatedly revise one's plans, especially with inefficient use of one's time and limited results.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
chip on one's shoulderA tendency to take offence quickly.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
clear one's linesTo clear the ball away from a dangerous position.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
clear one's nameprove someone's innocence; exonerateRate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
cognitive dissonanceThe state of behaving in a way that runs contrary to one's core values, worldview, ideals, and/or moral compass. One who does not practice as they preach could be said to have cognitive dissonanceRate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)
comfortable in one's own skinRelaxed and confident in one's manner of presenting oneself and interacting with others; conveying the impression that one has a clear, satisfying understanding of one's own abilities and situation.Rate it:

(5.00 / 1 vote)

We need you!

Help us build the largest human-edited phrases collection on the web!

Alternative searches for one-on-one:

Quiz

Are you a phrases master?

»
He's struggling to make _______ meet.
A calculations
B ends
C lives
D friends