WORDROW Korean Idioms Idioms under “ㅊ” — 85 idioms
Browse idioms by the initial consonant of the first Korean syllable, in Hangul order. On this site, ㄲ, ㄸ, ㅃ, ㅆ, and ㅉ are grouped under ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ, ㅅ, and ㅈ, respectively.
strip away all essentials To remove all valuable and essential things. 
2 meanings An overwhelming offensive; the core force Figuratively, an offensive that presses so hard one cannot move. 
throw cold water on something To intrude on something going well and spoil the mood or obstruct it through needless fault-finding. 
Act coldly Reveal a cold, indifferent attitude. 
have a chill enter the mood For one’s mind or the atmosphere to become harsh and forbidding. 
Be choosy despite hardship Act like someone well-fed despite being in difficult circumstances 
Interject and meddle Step in to interfere with another's matter or words. 
nibble repeatedly A figurative expression for eating small amounts many times. 
Shared · 2 Be torn by overwhelming emotion Find grief, anger, or the like so great that it is hard to bear 
Shared · 3 Be torn with grief Have one's heart filled with unbearable grief or pain. 
act spinelessly Coarsely, to behave without backbone or propriety. 
Shared · 2 be heartbroken To feel extreme anguish or sorrow. 
Take control Play the leading role, or seize the initiative and direct matters 
spur someone on To give advice, encouragement, or the like. 
Shared · 2 Do nothing but sit at a desk Stay in the office or spend one's time only looking at documents rather than engaging with reality and working responsibly. 
Shared · 2 do nothing but sit at a desk To stay in an office or spend time merely reading documents instead of engaging with reality and working responsibly. 
catch on instantly A figurative expression for quickly grasping another person’s intentions or the situation. 
Understand at the slightest hint Understand immediately from even a slight suggestion 
Countless strands An extremely large number of different strands 
jump in outrage or shock To leap up in extreme anger or fright. 
Go to heaven Another expression for “to die” 
2 meanings Not at all; absolutely not In modestly declining praise or thanks, express that it is undeserved. 
Shared · 6 Burn with fury Find something so offensive or angering that one seems to give off heat 
Recite the Thousand-Hand Sutra Read the Thousand-Hand Sutra to pray for a long life without illness. 
One in a thousand Express great rarity. 
2 meanings Get recommended or make a first attempt Receive someone’s recommendation 
Know no ceiling Have no discernible limit 
Make the earth shake Of a sound, be extremely loud. 
Feel as though one has won the world Figuratively, feel extremely happy and satisfied 
Choose according to season Distinguish or choose things by considering the season 
A prison without bars Figuratively, a place where control and surveillance leave one unable to move freely, much like a prison. 
Punish severely Punish severely or deal a heavy blow. 
Be severely punished Receive severe punishment 
be brazenly shameless To disregard dignity or shame. 
Begin a new course Set out on a new course or begin a task. 
get off on the wrong foot To make a wrong beginning. 
Break ground Begin construction or similar work for the first time 
Shared · 2 Take one's first steps Begin a task or business for the first time. 
2 meanings Shared · 3 take one’s first steps For a young child to begin learning to walk. 
Take the first step Enter the beginning of a task or business. 
Shared · 2 at the top of one’s voice Loudly without restraint or reserve, chiefly when crying or shouting. 
dream of worldly success A figurative expression for the dream of rising in the world. 
Lofty ambitions Figuratively, a great hope of attaining distinction and success 
make a special request To make a special request directly or indirectly through an intermediary. 
The ripe fruit’s core separates For the inside of a ripe melon, cucumber, or the like to detach from the inner wall of its flesh 
imitate a style To follow the style of writing, painting, calligraphy, or the like. 
Shake one's head in disgust Become so sick of something that one's head shakes with disgust. 
be saddled with someone else’s costs To find oneself absurdly made to bear someone else’s expense or effort through their circumstances or maneuvering. 
be trapped by concern for appearances To suffer embarrassment at the hands of an insignificant person while trying to preserve one’s dignity. 
Feel one's dignity compromised Feel ashamed and indignant because one's dignity is not upheld. 
Be fleeting as dew For life or the like to be transient 
Spoil a promising affair Obstruct an undertaking that is going well or about to do so, making it fail or lose momentum 
Shared · 2 Have an atmosphere of mourning Have a desolate, sorrowful atmosphere steeped in worry and grief. 
Shared · 2 Have a mournful atmosphere Be steeped in worry and grief, with a deeply bleak and sorrowful atmosphere 
Stay keenly alert Concentrate, keep one’s nerves sharply alert, and prepare to respond immediately 
Extend one’s influence Gradually exert influence on a target with a particular purpose 
chatter and fuss frivolously To act and chatter extremely frivolously. 
2 meanings Lose virginity or marry For a bachelor to lose his virginity for the first time 
take responsibility for the group Colloquially, to undertake on behalf of the group a shared task no one wants to assume. 
Take up arms Go into battle bearing weapons