not a soul
Meaning: Absolutely nobody.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “We got to the beach at dawn, and there wasn't a soul in sight.”
Category: Daily Life
Origin: "Soul" has meant a person since Old English. "Not a soul" meaning nobody at all is long established; its first use has not been traced.
Equivalents in other languages
- French: Il n'y a pas un chat — literally: There isn't a cat
More idioms — Daily Life
- lose sleep over — To worry a lot about something.
- make a pass at — To make a sexual or romantic advance toward someone.
- overstep the mark — To go beyond what is acceptable.
- shoot down in flames — To reject or destroy an idea or argument completely.
- rough around the edges — Lacking polish or refinement, though basically good.
- smoke the peace pipe — To make peace after a quarrel.
More English idioms
- a Trojan horse — Something that seems harmless but hides a threat inside.
- the dogs bark, but the caravan moves on — Let critics complain; one carries on regardless.
- drain the cup to the dregs — To endure a hardship or humiliation to the very end.
- the icing on the cake — An extra good thing added to something already good.
- neither fish nor fowl — Something that fits into no clear category.
- only have eyes for — To be interested in or attracted to one person only.
From our proverbs
- Sleep on it; the pillow is the best counsellor. — Delaying decisions allows subconscious processing to clarify confusion that waking worry…
- He that will not stoop for a pin, shall never be worth a point. — Neglecting small savings and modest gains through pride ensures poverty and failure.
- A pin a day is a groat a year. — Small daily expenses accumulate into significant yearly costs without conscious budgeting…