British, formal

to try to guess what is going to happen in the future by examining what is happening now.

He was the first Eastern European leader to read the runes and make political changes to stay in power.

• contradiction in terms
• contrary to popular belief
• contrary to popular opinion
• conventional wisdom
• conversation piece
• cook goose
• cookie-cutter
• cook someone's goose
• cook the books
• cook up
• cook up something
• cool as a cucumber
• cool customer
• cool down
• cool head
• cool heels
• Cool it!
• cool it
• cool your heels
• cop a feel
• cop a plea
• cop it sweet
• copper-bottomed
• cop some z's
• cordon bleu