Politics – English idioms and sayings

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Question		Answer
A competition or election which doesn't have many likely winners. start learning		one / two horse race This presidential election was just a two horse race.
The frenzy the media goes into whenever a general election is announced. start learning		election fever Election fever has started, there's politics on every channel.
Empty, exaggerated, or pretentious talk. start learning		hot air Politicians always talk the hot air.
A parliament in which no one political party has an outright majority. start learning		hung parliament In Poland we always have a hung parliament.
To conform to the rules or standards of the political party you belong to. start learning		to toe the party line The party usually punishes those who don't toe the party line.
A politically organized group of people under a single government. start learning		body politic Body politic elected the new president.
A problem that doesn't get solved because the politics of the issue get in the way, or the issue is very controversial. start learning		political football Apart from being a controversial issue, abortion is also a political football.
Something potentially dangerous or embarrassing. start learning		political hot potato This scandal will be a political hot potato.
The way politics runs. start learning		political machinery Not many people fully understand political machinery.
To use or not use language that will cause offence - often shortened to PC. start learning		politically correct / incorrect (PC) To call an Afro-American a “nigger” is not PC.
To shake hands. start learning		to press the flesh Political campaign includes a lot of flesh pressing.
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. start learning		to get on / off your soapbox When a politician gets on his soapbox nothing can stop his talking.
to leave start learning		to vote with one's feet Many people in Africa vote with their feet and emigrate.

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