| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
| can't hold a candle |
(See hold a candle)
|
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| can't put my finger on it |
cannot remember the exact words
|
I know the answer, but I can't put my finger on it.
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| can't put my hands on it |
cannot remember exactly where it is
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Your book is in my office, but I can't put my hands on it now.
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| can't see for looking |
cannot see because I have been looking too long
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Will you try to find my glove? I can't see for looking.
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| can't see the forest for the trees |
I am so close that I cannot see the whole picture or the big picture
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I'm so involved in teaching that I've lost my view of education. I can't see the forest for the trees.
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| can't stand |
does not like, hate
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Don can't stand love songs. He thinks the words are silly.
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| Canada goose |
getting goosed in Canada by a Canadian
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"There," he said. "Now you've had your Canada goose."
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| canary |
a person who tells the police, a squealer
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Ken - that canary! He tells the boss who comes in late.
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| candy-ass |
a person without courage or confidence
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Larry, that candy-ass! He's afraid to play me because he may lose.
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| canned |
prepared, memorized, a pat answer
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His answers sound canned, like he memorized them.
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