lid (redirected from lifted the lid off)

blow/take the lid off something

to cause something bad that was previously kept secret to be known by the public. In 1989 they started an investigation that was to blow the lid off corruption in the police force.

See also: blow, take

flip your lid

1. to become crazy. I thought he'd finally flipped his lid when he bought that old helicopter.

2. to suddenly become very angry. She'll flip her lid when she finds out what's been going on.

See also: flip

keep a lid on something

to control the level of something in order to stop it increasing. Economic difficulties continued and the government intervened to keep a lid on inflation.

See also: keep

Put a lid on it! (mainly American, informal)

something that you say in order to tell someone to stop talking. Put a lid on it, you two! You've been shouting all afternoon.

put the lid on something (British, old-fashioned)

if something that happens puts the lid on a plan, it causes the plan to fail. When James resigned that put the lid on the whole project.

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blow the lid off (something)

to make public something that was previously not known or was hidden. He blew the lid off modern photography by publishing gritty, realistic pictures at a time when most photos showed a clean, happy world.

Usage notes: sometimes used with other verbs meaning "remove": Her novel tore the lid off small-town life.

See also: blow

keep a lid on (something)

to maintain control over something. His forces kept a lid on unrest for nearly eight years.

See also: keep

put a lid on (something)

to stop something from increasing. The mayor wants to put a lid on spending. Diplomats hope to put a lid on rising tensions between the two countries.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form put a lid on it stop complaining: Put a lid on it, Jeff, would you please?