Idioms/K

Idioms beginning with K. Select an idiom for more details.

a kick in the teeth

If you get a kick in the teeth, something bad happens to you or you feel that you've been treated poorly.

a knight in shining armour | armor

If someone is a knight in shining armour, they help you when you are in a difficult situation.

a knuckle sandwich INFORMAL

If you give someone a knuckle sandwich, you punch them.

keep a low profile

If you keep a low profile, you try not to do anything that will draw attention to you or create interest in you.

keep abreast of

If you keep abreast of something, you always know about the latest news and developments in relation to it.

keep an eye on

If you keep an eye on someone, you make sure you know what they're doing.

keep it under your hat

If someone tells you a secret and you keep it under your hat, you don't tell anyone.

keep something at bay

If you keep something at bay, you stop something that could be a problem for you from getting too close or from getting worse.

keep something in mind

If you keep something in mind, you remember some information or advice and consider it at some time in the future.

keep track of

If you keep track of something or someone, you continue to know what's happening with them.

keep up with the Joneses American English

People who try to keep up with the Joneses are people who feel it's important to show that they're as successful as others (such as their rich neighbours, "The Joneses").

keep your nose clean

If you keep your nose clean, you stay out of trouble by making sure you don't do anything wrong.

keep your word

If you keep your word, you do what you promised to do.

kick the bucket INFORMAL

If someone kicks the bucket, they die.

kick the habit

If you kick the habit, you manage to stop doing something that has become a bad habit.

kill the goose that lays the golden egg

If you kill the goose that lays the golden egg, you destroy something that has made you a lot of money.

kill time

You kill time when you do something to amuse yourself while waiting for something.

kill two birds with one stone

If you kill two birds with one stone, you achieve two things with the one action.

kiss and make up

If you kiss and make up with someone, you get over a disagreement and become friendly again.

Knock it off!

You can say "Knock it off!" when someone is doing something wrong, or something that's annoying you, and you want them to stop it.

knock your socks off

If something knocks your socks off, it amazes you and surprises you.

know the ropes

If you know the ropes, you know how to do a job properly, or you know how things work and how to get things done.

know what's what

If you know what's what, you have a lot of experience and you understand things well.

know where you stand

If you know where you stand, you know exactly where you fit in a social or work situation, or in someone's life.

know your stuff

If you know your stuff, you're very good at what you do, and you know a lot about it.

Contributor: Matt Errey