Idioms and Phrases

These idioms are compiled from the Cambridge International Dictionary.The Cambridge International Dictionary explains over 7,000 idioms current in British, American and other English speaking countries, helping learners to understand them and use them with confidence.

The Cambridge Dictionary, based on the 200 million words of English text in the Cambridge International Corpus, unlocks the meaning of more than 5,000 idiomatic phrases used in contemporary English. Full-sentence examples show how idioms are really used.

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Here is the list of idioms beginning with V.


Vale of tears: This vale of tears is the world and the suffering that life brings.


Velvet glove: This idiom is used to describe a person who appears gentle, but is determined and inflexible underneath. ('Iron fist in a velvet glove' is the full form.)


Vent your spleen: If someone vents their spleen, they release all their anger about something.


Vicar of Bray: (UK) A person who changes their beliefs and principles to stay popular with people above them is a Vicar of Bray


Vicious circle: A vicious circle is a sequence of events that make each other worse- someone drinks because they are unhappy at work, and then loses their job... Vicious cycle is also used.


Virgin territory: If something is virgin territory, it hasn't been explored before.


Volte-face: If you do a volte-face on something, you make a sudden and complete change in your stance or position over an issue.