Idioms and phrases are figurative expressions that help you convey complex emotions or situations in everyday conversations. Use of idioms and phrases adds colour to your expression.
Though these are hard to decipher, as their meaning differs from their literal words. The meaning cannot be deduced from individual words. These idioms and phrases are derived from historical or cultural contexts.
The English language categorises idioms and phrases into four main types: pure (meaning cannot be deduced), binomial (two words with a conjunction), partial (partially literal), and prepositional (begins with a preposition).
Now, let us look into common English idioms and phrases starting with 'C', which include 'call it a day' or 'cut corners'. You must have also heard the famous one, 'Cat got your tongue?'. Let us learn and understand their meanings in the article below.
Idioms and Phrases starting with the letter 'C' and their meanings
Do you know when we say 'cat got your tongue', we mean to ask someone why they are not saying something? You must have often heard, 'don't be a couch potato, go work out.' Well, that's describing a lazy person who is sitting on the sofa all day watching TV, probably.
Let us look at the idioms and phrases starting with the letter C along with their meanings.
| Idioms and Phrases | Meaning |
| Call a spade a spade | To speak the truth plainly |
| Call the shots | To be in charge or make the decisions |
| Calm before the storm | A quiet period before chaos |
| Can of worms | A complicated or unpleasant situation |
| Carrot and stick | A policy of offering both rewards and punishments |
| Carry the day | To win or be successful |
| Castles in the air | Daydreams or unrealistic plans |
| Cat got your tongue | Asking someone why they are not speaking |
| Change your tune | To change your opinion or attitude |
| Chicken out | To avoid doing something due to fear |
| Chip off the old block | Someone who resembles a parent in behaviour |
| Clean as a whistle | Extremely clean or spotless record |
| Close, but no cigar | Almost successful, but not quite |
| Cold shoulder | To intentionally ignore someone |
| Come clean | To confess or tell the truth |
| Cry over spilt milk | To worry about past or events that have happened |
| Cut to the chase | Get to the point without wasting time |
| Call it a day | To stop working |
| Cut corners | To do something poorly to save time or money |
| Close call | A situation where something bad almost happened |
| Catch someone red-handed | To catch someone in the act of doing something wrong or illegal |
| Catch someone's eye | To attract someone's attention |
| Chip on your shoulder | To be angry or upset about something that happened in the past |
| Clean slate | A fresh start |
| Cloud nine | A state of extreme happiness |
| Crack of dawn | Very early morning |
| Curiosity killed the cat | Inquiring too much can lead to trouble |
| Cut and dried | Already decided and unlikely to be changed |
| Cool as a cucumber | To be very calm even something stressful happens |
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