| Idiom/Saying | Explanation |
|---|---|
One / Two ... horse race For example: General elections in the UK are generally a two horse race. |
A competition or election which don't have many likely winners. |
Election fever For example: The media is suffering from election fever, you can't switch the TV on without being bombarded by political pundits. |
The frenzy the media goes into whenever a general election is announced. |
Hot air For example: Politicians always talk a load of hot air. |
Empty, exaggerated, or pretentious talk. |
Hung parliament For example: Everyone is saying there will be a hung parliament this election and the parties will have to make alliances with the smaller parties to form a majority. |
A parliament in which no one political party has an outright majority. |
Toe the party line For example: "He'll have to learn to toe the party line, if he wants to get on." |
To conform to the rules or standards of the political party you belong to. |
Body politic For example: "Judge Sydney Harris ordered the crown to return to the Body Politic all material seized during the raid." |
A politically organized group of people under a single government. |
A political football For example: "Women's health issues are always a political football." |
A problem that doesn't get solved because the politics of the issue get in the way, or the issue is very controversial. |
| A political hot potato For example: "The expenses scandal is a political hot potato." |
Something potentially dangerous or embarassing. |
Political machinery. For example:- The political machinery has yet to understand the opportunity or threat of the internet and social websites. |
The way politics runs in the UK. |
Politically correct / incorrect (PC) For example: "Bernard Manning was never very PC." |
To use or not use language that will cause offence - often shortened to PC. |
| Press the flesh. For example: "He has to do a lot of flesh pressing in the run up to the elections." |
To shake hands. |
| To get on / off your soapbox For example: "Hyde Park, in London is famous for people who get on their soapbox to discuss issues that concern them." |
To talk a lot about a subject you feel strongly about. If someone tells you to "get off your soapbox" they think you're talking too much about that subject. |
Throw in the towel. For example: They knew they were going to lose, so they threw in the towel. |
To give up |
To vote with your feet. For example: I told her that if she didn't like the job she could always vote with her feet. |
To leave |
| More idioms and sayings | |