Knives aren’t just tools in the kitchen; they’re also featured in many common English idioms. These phrases can be fun and interesting to learn, especially for kids. Let’s explore some idioms related to knives that are used to express different ideas in a simple and easy way.
Knife Idioms
Here are 20 knife idioms in English.
1. As sharp as a knife
Meaning: Very intelligent or smart
Example: He’s as sharp as a knife in math.
2. To twist the knife
Meaning: Make a bad situation worse
Example: He twisted the knife by laughing.
3. Under the knife
Meaning: To undergo surgery
Example: She went under the knife yesterday.
4. Like a knife through butter
Meaning: With ease, very smoothly
Example: He sliced the board like a knife through butter.
5. A double-edged knife
Meaning: Something with two negative sides
Example: This decision is a double-edged knife.
6. To have a knife hanging over one’s head
Meaning: To face a constant threat
Example: He feels a knife hanging over his head.
7. To turn the knife
Meaning: Intensify the pain or problem
Example: She turned the knife with her comments.
8. Put the knife in
Meaning: Betray or hurt someone
Example: He put the knife in by revealing secrets.
9. Knife-edged
Meaning: Risky or dangerous
Example: It was a knife-edged decision.
10. To knife someone in the back
Meaning: To betray someone
Example: He knifed his friend in the back.
11. At knifepoint
Meaning: Under threat of violence
Example: They were robbed at knifepoint.
12. The knife falls
Meaning: A decisive action is taken
Example: The knife falls at noon.
13. By the knife
Meaning: Resolved by violence or surgery
Example: The tumor was removed by the knife.
14. Live by the knife, die by the knife
Meaning: Actions have consequences
Example: He lived by the knife and died by it.
15. To stick the knife in
Meaning: Make a situation more painful
Example: She stuck the knife in with her words.
16. With a knife to one’s throat
Meaning: Under severe pressure
Example: He worked with a knife to his throat.
17. To fall on one’s knife
Meaning: To take responsibility, often resigning
Example: He fell on his knife after the scandal.
18. Knife in the water
Meaning: A hint of danger or trouble
Example: There’s a knife in the water here.
19. To hold the knife
Meaning: To be in a position of control
Example: He held the knife in negotiations.
20. To sharpen one’s knife
Meaning: To prepare aggressively
Example: She sharpened her knife for the debate.
