str Idiom, Proverb
a losing streak
losing several times in succession The Leafs are on a losing streak. They've lost seven games!
a lucky streak
winning several times in succession Whenever I wear this ring, I have a lucky streak. I win every game!
a perfect stranger
a person you have never seen, a total stranger In New York, a perfect stranger asked her to sleep with him.
a total stranger
one you have never seen, a perfect stranger """Can I give you a ride home?"" ""No. You're a total stranger."""
a tower of strength
a person who helps you during a crisis, a brick When my parents were killed in an accident, Harry was a tower of strength to me.
by any stretch...
(See not by any stretch of the imagination)
captain of industry
a top corporation officer The president of our company was a captain of industry and after he retired he was appointed to many government boards.
change horses in mid stream
change plans/methods after you have begun a competition or business We're in the furniture business, not clothing. We can't change horses in mid stream.
change horses in midstream
make new plans or choose a new leader in the middle of an important activity They have decided to change lawyers but I told them that they shouldn
come on strong
do it with more energy, do it with enthusiasm If you come on too strong, the customer will not buy from you.
crack under the strain
become irrational or hysterical due to strain, around the bend Mother was a strong person. She never cracked under the strain of raising ten children.
drive you to distraction
cause you to lose thoughts, drive me up the wall Her continual chatter will drive you to distraction.
easy street
an easy life, a life with lots of money to spend Win five million dollars and we'll be on easy street.
full strength
not weakened or diluted, straight up Did John Wayne drink bourbon full strength? Without water?
get it straight
understand it, catch on, figure out She doesn't know the difference between boys and girls. I hope she soon gets it straight.
get this straight
understand what is said, get the picture Let me get this straight. You say there's a moose in your bathtub?
give it to me straight
give me the facts, do not beat around the bush """I have some bad news, man."" ""Tell me. Give it to me straight."""
go straight
change from a criminal to a law-abiding citizen When he's released from prison he plans to go straight.
go strong
(See going strong)
going strong
doing well, succeeding The party was going strong - lots of dancing and laughter.
grasp at straws
try something with little hope of succeeding, depend on something that is useless in a time of trouble He is grasping at straws. He will never find enough money to pay next month
have two strikes against one
have things working against one, be in a difficult situation He already has two strikes against him and it will be very difficult for him to get the job.
havoc strikes
problems happen, crises occur suddenly Farmers plant their crops, and havoc strikes in hailstones.
high strung
nervous and sensitive, easily upset Jacqueline won't speak in public because she's very high strung.
hold the purse strings
control how much is spent, decide when to spend He does the talking, but she holds the purse strings.
in dire straits
in debt, having no money If we don't get a good crop this year, we'll be in dire straits.
in stride
(See take it in stride)
it strikes me
this is clear to me, this is my impression It strikes me that we share many interests and activities.
keep a straight face
not smile or laugh, have a a poker face When you said I was your uncle, I couldn't keep a straight face.
keep them straight
know the difference, be able to identify them Mo, you have so many relatives. How do you keep them straight?
last straw
(See the last straw)
losing streak
losing game after game, losing a series of games The Jays are on a losing streak. They've lost four games straight.
lucky streak
a series of lucky wins, string of good luck He lost the bet on the sixth race, and his lucky streak ended.
mainstream
common, familiar, of the majority Smoking isn't as common now. It isn't a mainstream activity.
make strange
be afraid of a stranger, cry when a stranger comes Ali makes strange when we have visitors. He cries and tries to hide.
man in the street
the average or ordinary person According to what the man in the street is saying the government is not very popular.
mean streak
being unkind at times, having cruel traits Kurt has a mean streak in him. Did you see him kick his dog?
not by any stretch of the imagination
not adding to the story, not stretching it Gigi wasn't his only girl, not by any stretch of the imagination.
on a shoestring
on a very low budget, with little money to spend We went to China and Japan on a shoestring and enjoyed it very much.
on a string
controlled by a person, wrapped around his finger He's got you on a string, Bonny. Are you thinking for yourself?
on easy street
having enough money to live comfortably He has been on easy street since he sold his house and invested the money.
on queer street
dizzy or stunned, not acting normal After he hit me I felt like I was on queer street - I was dazed.
perfect stranger
(See a perfect stranger)
play on my heart strings
cause me to feel emotional, make me feel sentimental The movie Hey Jude will play on your heart strings - make you cry.
pre-menstrual syndrome
emotional crises the week before menstruation, pms Judy says pms causes most of her personal problems.
pull a few strings
help by talking to powerful people, it's not what you know... My application was late, but a friend of mine pulled a few strings and got me an interview.
pull strings
secretly use influence and power He was able to pull some strings and get his son a job for the summer.
set you straight
give you the facts, tell you how it is If you want to know who's got the gold, Pat will set you straight.
shoot straight
act fairly, deal honestly He always shoots straight when he is dealing with the police or the government.
straght from the horse
directly from the person or place where something began I heard straight from the horse
