Idioms Beginning With 'C'

1. Cake's not worth the candle

If someone says that the cake's not worth the candle, they mean that the result will not
be worth the effort put in to achieve it.
2. Calf lick
A calf lick is the weird parting in your fringe where your hair grows in a different
direction, usually to one side.
3. Call a spade a spade
A person who calls a spade a spade is one speaks frankly and makes little or no attempt
to conceal their opinions or to spare the feelings of their audience.
4. Call it a day
If you call it a day, you stop doing something for a while, normally at least until the
following day.
5. Call on the carpet
If you are called on the carpet, you are summoned for a reprimand by superiors or others
in power.
6. Call the dogs off
If someone calls off their dogs, they stop attacking or criticising someone.
7. Call the shots
If you call the shots, you are in charge and tell people what to do.
8. Call the tune
The person who calls the tune makes the important decisions about something.
9. Call time
(UK) If you call time on something, you decide it is time to end it.
10. Calm before the storm
A calm time immediately before period of violent activity or argument is the calm before
the storm.
11. Camel's nose
A camel's nose is a small, seemingly harmless act that can have undesirable
consequences if allowed.
12. Can of worms
If an action can create serious problems, it is opening a can of worms.
13. Can't beat that
If you can't beat something, it's the best and you aren't going to find anything better.
14. Can't dance and it's too wet to plow
(USA) When you can't dance and it's too wet to plow, you may as well do something
because you can't or don't have the opportunity to do anything else.
15. Can't do it for toffee
If you can't so something for toffee, you are incapable of doing something properly or to
any sort of standard.
16. Can't get a word in edgeways
If you can't get a word in edgeways, you don't have the chance to say anything because
the person you are with is is talking all the time.
17. Can't get to 1st base
If you can't get to first base, you're having difficulties starting something.
18. Can't hack it
Unable to perform an act, duty, job etc. (example: I have to quit my job as a computer
technician; I just can't hack it.)
19. Can't hold a candle
If something can't hold a candle to something else, it is much worse.
20. Can't see the forest for its trees
If someone can't see the forest for its trees, they are too focused on specific details to
see the picture as a whole.
21. Can't see your hand in front of your face
If you can't see your hand in front of your face, visibility is very poor due to something
like bad fog.
22. Canary in a coal mine
(UK) A canary in a coal mine is an early warning of danger.
23. Cap in hand
If you go cap in hand, you humbly ask someone for something like forgiveness or
money.
24. Card up your sleeve
If you have a card up your sleeve, you have a surprise plan or idea that you are keeping
back until the time is right.
25. Carpetbagger
A carpetbagger is an opportunist without any scruples or ethics, or a politican who wants
to represent a place they have no connection with.
26. Carrot and stick
If someone offers a carrot and stick, they offer an incentive to do something combined
with the threat of punishment.
27. Carry the can
If you carry the can, you take the blame for something, even though you didn't do it or
are only partly at fault.
28. Carry the day
If something carries the day, it wins a battle (the sense is that the battle has been long
and could have gone either way) or competition for supremacy.
29. Case by case
If things are done case by case, each situation or issue is handled separately on its own
merits and demerits.
30. Case in point
Meaning an instance of something has just occurred that was previously discussed. For
instance, a person may have told another that something always happens. Later that day,
they see it happening, and the informer might say, 'case in point'.
Tagalog Idioms Beginning With 'D'

1. di makabasag-pinggan -- mahinhin a very demure, prim-and-proper person

(literal=someone who can't break a plate)

2. di mahulugang-karayom -- maraming tao overcrowded place (literal=where one cannot

throw a pin)

3. daga sa dibdib -- takot worry, fear (literal=mouse in the chest)

4. daanan
verb
 to fetch someone 13. di-makabasag pinggan
adjective
5. daanin sa tigas ng buto  very meek
verb  quiet and gentle
 to take anything through force
14. di-maliparang-uwak
6. dagok ng kapalaran adjective
noun  very wide (track of land)
 bad luck
 misfortune 15. di-mataga
adjective
7. di-kabagang  a well-dressed, good-looking young
adjective man
 not in harmony
16. di-nagtatanaw-tama
8. di-maabot-sabi verb
adjective  have not seen or met for quite a time
 cannot find words to express
 unable to express what should be 17. dibdibin
expressed verb
 to think seriously
9. di-maabot-tanaw  to consider something whole-heartedly
adjective
 cannot be reached by one's sight due 18. dilang-ginto
to distance or area adjective
 fluency
10. di-mababayaran ang tiyan  eloquence
adjective
 very satisfied (referring to the food 19. dilat ang mata
eaten) adjective
 intelligent
11. di-mahapayang gatang
adjective 20. dinaan sa bibig
 would not yield in a verbal clash verb
 sharp-tongued  quarreling using sharp tongues for
weapon
12. di-mahulugang karayom
adjective 21. dinapuan ng karamdaman
 crowded verb
 too many people  became sick
  fell ill verb
 to inflict mental suffering to others
22. dugo ng kanyang dugo
noun 27. dalawa ang bibig -- mabunganga,
 child madaldal nagger, talkative person
(literal=two-mouthed)
23. dugong mahal 28. dugo at pawis
adjective
 royal blood
1. (idiomatic) blood, sweat and tears
24. 29. dugo't laman
dupong
noun
 a person with dark complexion 1. (idiomatic) flesh and blood
30. dumaan sa butas ng karayom
25. dupong
adjective 1. (idiomatic) To go
 a person with dark complexion through various challenges and difficu
lties.
26. durugin ang puso