could

before someone could blink

very quickly or suddenly. Before you could blink, he'd grabbed the purse and was halfway down the street.

See also: before, blink

could do something with one arm/hand tied behind their back (informal)

if someone could do something with one hand tied behind their back, they can do it very easily. Her part in the film wasn't very demanding - she could have played it with one hand tied behind her back.

See also: arm, back, behind, hand, tie

could do something in their sleep

if someone could do something in their sleep, they can do it very easily, usually because they have done it so often. I've done the same recipe so many times I could do it in my sleep now.

See also: sleep

could do something standing on your head (informal)

if you could do something standing on your head, you can do it very easily, usually because you have done it many times before. I've done this job for so long I could do it standing on my head.

See also: head, standing

could talk under water (Australian, informal, Australian, informal)

someone who could talk under water has a lot to say in any situation. Most of our guests were very quiet, but Harry could talk under water, so he kept the conversation going.

See also: talk, water

someone could do something with their eyes closed/shut

if someone could do something with their eyes shut, they can do it very easily, usually because they have done it so many times before. I've driven along this route so often, I could do it with my eyes shut.

See also: closed, eye, shut

I could eat a horse.

something that you say when you are very hungry. I've had nothing but a sandwich all day - I could eat a horse.

See also: eat, horse

I could murder something. (British, informal)

something that you say when you want a particular kind of food or drink very much. I'm starving. I could murder a curry.

See also: murder

I could (just) spit! (informal)

something that you say when you are very angry, usually because of something someone has done. When I think of all the hours I put into that company and that's how they treat me. I could just spit!

See also: spit

I wouldn't trust someone as far as I could throw them. (informal)

something that you say which means that you do not trust someone at all. I'll admit John is very charming, but I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him.

See also: far, throw, trust, wouldn't

If looks could kill...

something that you say in order to describe the unpleasant or angry way in which someone looked at you. I'll never forget the expression on her face when she saw me with Pete. If looks could kill...

See also: look

you could cut the atmosphere with a knife

something that you say to describe a situation in which everyone is feeling very angry or nervous and you feel that something unpleasant could soon happen. There was a lot of tension between Diane and Carol; you could cut the atmosphere in that room with a knife.

See also: cut, knife

You could have heard a pin drop.

something that you say in order to describe a situation where there was complete silence, especially because people were very interested or very surprised by what was happening. Margaret's ex-husband turned up at the wedding. Honestly, you could have heard a pin drop.

See also: drop, hear, pin

You could have knocked me down/over with a feather! (humorous)

something that you say in order to emphasize how surprised you were when something happened. I only entered for a joke and I won first prize. You could have knocked me down with a feather.

See also: down, feather, knock, over

You could've fooled me. (informal)

something that you say when you do not believe what someone says about something that you saw or experienced yourself. 'No, I wasn't angry, I was just a little surprised.' 'Really? You could've fooled me.'

See also: fool

---

could do with something

to want or need something. You look as if you could do with a haircut.

you could hear a pin drop

to be extremely quiet. The new sound-proof lab is so well designed, you can hear a pin drop. You could have heard a pin drop for a full minute after every song and then the audience would clap wildly.

See also: drop, hear, pin