| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
| name-dropper |
one who implies famous people are his friends, drop a name
|
That name-dropper! He spoke of Gordon Lightfoot as his friend.
|
| name is cleared |
name is not involved in a scandal or a crime
|
The lawyer thinks I should leave town until my name is cleared.
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| name is mud |
name is bad, name is not respected
|
If you don't pay for the support of your child, your name is mud.
|
| nary a word |
not a word, nothing
|
When I asked the boy a question, he said nothing - nary a word.
|
| natural high |
feeling good from having nutritious food or exercise
|
After swimming, she would often experience a natural high.
|
| nature calls |
need to go the washroom, have to go
|
When nature calls, just say you have an important appointment.
|
| navel-gazing |
sitting and looking at your own navel, contemplating
your own existence
|
"Have you nothing better to do than to sit there navel-gazing?"
"No."
|
| nay |
no, nope
|
"Should Tom be our team leader?" "Nay."
|
| neat |
fine, well designed, cool
|
What a neat car! It's small but roomy - and comfortable!
|
| necessity is the mother of invention |
our needs cause us to invent devices, build a better mousetrap
|
Do you think the invention of TV proves that necessity is the mother of invention?
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