We have hundreds of common expressions on here. The phrases below start with the letter C. Click (or tap) on a phrase to learn more about it.
‘C‘ – Phrases
Calm Before The Storm
A peaceful period of time that comes before a more difficult period.
Check, Please!
1. A request for a bill. 2. Being in an uncomfortable situation and wanting to leave it.
Clickbait
A clickbait article or thumbnail is one that is sensational, exaggerated, or misleading for the purpose of attracting clicks.
Close But No Cigar
Coming close to a successful outcome only to fall short at the end.
Cold Turkey
Quitting a bad habit suddenly.
Crocodile Tears
To express sorrow in an insincere way.
Cry Over Spilled Milk
This expression means that it is useless to worry about things that have already happened and cannot be changed.
Cry Wolf
Someone who is lying.
Cup Of Joe
A ‘cup of joe’ is an American nickname for a cup of coffee.
Curiosity Killed The Cat
Typically said to indicate that any further investigation into a situation may lead to harm.
Cut The Mustard
To cut the mustard is to meet a required standard; to meet expectations.
Cut To The Chase
Getting directly to the point, leaving out all of the unnecessary details.
Note: More ‘C‘ expressions are below. The following phrases do not have their own page, but you can still learn their meaning.
Call It a Day
Ceasing an activity or work and taking it easy for the rest of the day.
Case In Point
Something that well demonstrates the point being made.
Cat Got Your Tongue
Having nothing to say; speechless.
Cat Nap
Resting for a small amount of time; nap.
Catch Red Handed
To be caught in the act of doing something that you are not supposed to be doing.
Similar: Catch in the act
Catch Some Shut-Eye
This phrase means to sleep.
Similar: Catch some z’s, hit the hay
Catch Some Z’s
If someone says they are going to “catch some z’s” it means they are going to bed in order to sleep.
Similar: Catch some shut-eye, hit the hay
Chalk Up
Place blame for what happened on something (e.g., I chalk up the fence falling over to that storm we had yesterday).
Change Of Heart
If you’ve had a “change of heart” about something, your thoughts on it have become different.
Similar: Change your mind
Cherry On Top
Someone might add “please, with a cherry on top” to the end of their statement to be polite, but also to show that they really want the person to accept or to do what was asked.
Similar: Pretty please
Chip Off The Old Block
A person who resembles their parents in some way.
Clean Slate
Getting a fresh start, without the problems that came before.
Clean Sweep
If one sports team “clean sweeps” another team, it means they won soundly against them. It can also mean a flawless victory.
Clear As Mud
Something that is confusing or difficult to understand.
Similar: It’s all Greek to me
Cold As Ice
Behaving in a way that shows no concern for another person’s feelings; ruthless.
Cold Feet
Nervous or hesitant about doing something.
Cold Shoulder
If someone gives you the “cold shoulder,” they are intentionally ignoring you.
Come Clean
To tell the truth, admitting something.
Similar: Let the cat out of the bag, spill the beans
Compare Apples To Oranges
Two things that may share some similarities, but they are still different from each other and should not be compared.
Cool As a Cucumber
Not agitated; calm.
Similar: Calm cool and collected
Couch Potato
Someone who is lazy.
Count Me In
After hearing a plan, someone might say “count me in,” which means they support the idea and/or they want to be a part of it.
Similar: I am down, I am game
Cross That Bridge When We Get There
Deal with a problem when or if it arises.
Curve Ball
When something unexpected happens.
Cut Corners
1. If a business “cuts corners” while manufacturing a product, it means they tried saving money by using cheaper parts or inferior materials to make it.
2. Rushing through something in order to save time, but the quality or overall result could be negatively impacted.
Cut The Cheese
It means to pass gas; fart.
