Idioms/N
Idioms beginning with N. Select an idiom for more details.(someone's) name is mud INFORMAL
If someone's name is mud, other people are angry with them, or they're no longer popular, because they've done something wrong.
a narrow escape
If you have a narrow escape, you survive a dangerous situation, but only just.
a necessary evil
If you say something is a necessary evil, you don't like it but you understand that it has to be accepted sometimes or it has to exist.
a nest egg
If you have a nest egg, you have money put away for the future.
a new lease of life
If someone has a new lease of life, they have a new enthusiasm for living.
a new lease on life
If someone has a new lease on life, they have a new enthusiasm for living.
a night on the town | out on the town
If you have a night on the town, or go out on the town, you go out for dinner and then go to a show or a dance club or some other entertainment venue.
a night owl
You're a night owl if you like to stay up and do things late at night.
neck and neck
If two competitors are running neck and neck in a race, they are almost level.
neck of the woods INFORMAL
A neck of the woods is a neighbourhood or a district, usually rural.
neither here nor there
You can say something is neither here nor there if it's not important, or not relevant.
nerves of steel
If you have nerves of steel, you are very brave and not many things make you scared or nervous.
Never mind.
You can say "never mind" when you want someone not to worry or feel bad about something, or not to bother doing something.
Never say die!
You can say "Never say die!" if you want to tell someone to keep trying while there's still a chance of success.
next to nothing
If something costs next to nothing, it costs very little, or nearly nothing.
nip it in the bud
If you nip something in the bud, you stop a problem from becoming serious by dealing with it as soon as you notice it.
no holds barred
If something is done with no holds barred, it's done without restriction, rules or restraint.
No sweat! INFORMAL
You can say "No sweat!" if someone asks you if you can do something, and you're sure you can do it.
No way! INFORMAL
You can say "No way!" when you want to strongly reject an offer, a request, or a suggestion.
not your cup of tea
If something is not your cup of tea, it's not what you like or what you're interested in.
nothing to write home about
If you say something is nothing to write home about, you mean it isn't very important or it isn't very good.
now and then | now and again
If you do something now and then, or now and again, you do it occasionally.
now or never
If you say it's now or never, you mean that something has to be done now or it can't be done at all.
the name of the game
You can say something is the name of the game if it's the most important thing you need to know or to have in order to succeed at something.
the new kid on the block INFORMAL
If you are the new kid on the block, you are the newest person in a workplace or in an educational institute, or any other place or organization.