Line in the sand– a limit or boundary on something
Stiff upper lip- to be brave in difficult time
Keep your nose clean- to stay away from unnecessary fights
Walk on the eggshell- to take action not to offend anyone/work with great attention or care
Bun in the oven- to be pregnant or to be expecting a baby
Whoop it up- enjoy in a noisy way usually in a group
With a vengeance- used to emphasize the degree to which something occurs
Reap the whirlwind- to suffer the negative consequences of one’s action
Of the first water- of the best quality
Weather the storm- survive in a difficult situation or period without being seriously harmed by it
Wear the green willow- grief or unrequited love
Wild and wooly- uncouth in appearance or behavior
Give it a whirl- to try out something
As hard as nails – unrelenting (Having or exhibiting uncompromising determination)
At loose ends- in an uncertain situation
Take up the hatchet- prepare for or go to war
Batten down the hatches- prepare for a challenging or difficult situation
Over egg the pudding – add unnecessary details to make something seem better or worse
From stem to stern – all the way from the front of a ship to the back
Do a runner- to leave a place in hurry
Pull a fast one – play a trick
Held up- delay
As daft as a brush- extremely silly
At sea – at a loss/ total confused
Turn down- reject
But in – interrupt
A house of cards- an insecure scheme
Drive home- emphasize/ to make somebody understand or accept something
Call on – pay a visit
All moonshine – far from reality
Hope against hope – nurture an impossible hope
Drag one’s feet/ heels- to be deliberately slow in doing something or in making a decision
Beggar description – can’t be described
Smooth ruffled feathers-to make people feel less offended or angry
A brown study- reverie
Ivory tower- a situation where you are separated from the problems and practical aspects of normal life(detachment and seclusion)
Wiped the nose of – cheated
Palm off– to dispose-off with the intent to deceive
Zero hour– the time at which a planned operation, typically a military one, is set to begin.
Young Turk– a young person eager for radical change to the established order.
wrong-foot- put (someone) in a difficult situation by saying or doing something unexpected.
wrong end of the stick– misunderstanding / to judge something wrong by mistake
Writing on the wall- said to mean that there are clear signs that something will fail or no longer exist
Back against the wall– in a very bad position or situation/ an inextricable position
Write large- clear and obvious.
Worth your salt- respected and awful
Word of mouth-spoken communication as a means of transmitting information.
Within a whisker- almost done or about to happen or almost finish a task
With flying colours- with distinction.
With a heavy hand-in a strict way, exerting a lot of control.
Window dressing- something used to create a deceptively favorable or attractive impression.
Win by a nose- To succeed or defeat someone in something by only a very narrow margin.
Wide of the mark- 1. Literally, to be far from hitting a target. 2. By extension, to be inaccurate or wrong.
Whole new ball game– A situation that is completely different from what one is used to or expecting./ completely new and unexpected
Whet your appetite- To induce or increase one’s interest in something.
Wakeup call- a warning to take action concerning something that was overlooked or neglected
Walk a tightrope– to be in a difficult situation in which a very small mistake could have very bad results
Walking on air– to be very happy
Weather a storm- To reach the end of a very difficult situation without too much harm or damage.
Well-heeled- very rich
Well oiled- slang drunk/ drink too much
Wet blanket– A person who discourages enjoyment or enthusiasm
Volte face-A complete change of opinion or belief.
Vicious circle- a continuing unpleasant situation, created when one problem causes another problem that then makes the first problem worse: Many people get caught/trapped in a vicious circle of dieting and weight gain.
Vent the spleen- to show or voice one’s anger- to get rid of one’s feelings of anger caused by someone or something by attacking someone or something else.
Upper hand– A position of advantage, power, and/or control (over someone, something, or some situation)
Upper crust- people of upper class
Up the ante- To increase the level of something, often one related to money.
Up in the air- uncertain
Up for grabs- Available to anyone; unclaimed./ In a state of chaos
Under fire – criticize by everyone
Uncharted waters- A situation or circumstance that is foreign, unclear, or unfamiliar and which may be dangerous or difficult as a result.
Uncalled for– Unjust, undeserved or inappropriate.
Turn an honest penny– To earn money in an honorable and legitimate way, typically through one’s hard work.
The man in the street– common people
Twist someone’s arm– To pressure or force one into doing something.
Turn the tables– complete opposite situation
Turn a blind eye to – To knowingly ignore some wrongdoing.
the be all and end all– a feature of an activity or a way of life that is of greater importance than any other (final result)
Take it in your stride – to control a difficult situation
Take it on the chin – to accept unpleasant events bravely and without complaining.
Take stock of – (to analyze) to think carefully about a situation or event and form an opinion about it, so that you can decide what to do
Take the plunge – to make a decision to do something, especially after thinking about it for a long time
By the seat of one’s pant– to do something by using one’s own experience and judgement
All good things must come to an end– even enjoyable experiences can’t last forever
You can say it again– to express agreement
The elephant in the room– an obvious problem that no one wants to discuss
No horse in the race- to have no vested interest in the outcome of a contest
X marks the spot– an exact location
Blood in thicker than water– family relation and loyalties are most important
Talk shop– to discuss a business to a person not related to that business
Teething problems – starting issues
Tempt providence – do something that is risky
The commonweal – benefits of common people
Thick and fast – speedily
Thick-skinned – not easily upset or offended by criticism
Thin-skinned – sensitive to criticism or insult
Throwdown the gauntlet/glove – to challenge
Throw someone in at the deep end – to make someone start a new and difficult job or activity without helping or preparing them for it
Throw your weight around – to use your position or influence unfairly to get what you want
Time and again – repeatedly
Tip of the iceberg – a small part of much bigger problem
To a T – perfectly or exactly right/accurate
Toe the line – to follow/ obey
Top notch – high quality
Tough/ hard nut to crack – difficult to deal with
Tread water – to not be advancing in any way
Tug at the heartstrings – to stir one’s emotions
sharp practice– Underhanded, deceitful, cunning, or particularly sneaky practice, especially in business
show the white feather-behave in a cowardly fashion.
sit in judgment-assume the right to judge someone, especially in a critical manner.
Stand-offish – unfriendly
Sweeping statement– a statement which applies to all things of a particular kind, although they have not considered all the relevant facts carefully
Square up – to prepare to fight, compete, or argue with someone
Smack in the face – a shock usually one that impedes progress
Smoking gun – indisputable evidence of a crime
Soft option- the easiest of two or more possible choices
Sow your wild oats- engage in a period of wild or irresponsible behavior while young, especially involving many casual sexual relationships
Spanner in the works – reason to spoil a plan
Speak volumes of/for – makes an opinion, characteristics or situation very clear
Spin a yarn – tell a story especially a long drawn-out or totally fanciful
Spit blood – became very angry
Split hairs– make small and overfine distinctions
Spot on – accurate
Spur of the moment– decision or action without planning
Stand in good stead – useful and beneficial especially of a talent, ability or experience
Start from scratch – to begin from beginning
State of the art– modern and advance
Steal a march over – to gain an unexpected or surreptitious advantage over someone or something
Step on it – go faster or hurry up
Step on someone’s toes – to upset someone
To stick your neck out – take risk
Sticky end – an unpleasant finish/death
Stiff-necked – haughty and stubborn
Straight face – a serious or impassive facial expression
Strike a chord /touch a chord – to say or do something that other people agree with or have sympathy with
Sweep things under the carpet – to ignore deny or conceal from public view or damage one’s plan or reputation
Swim or go against the tide– go against of prevailing opinion or thought
Swim or go with the tide – go along with prevailing opinion or thought
Set the bait – laid the trap
Set the record straight– to put right a mistake or misunderstanding
Set their one’s face against – resist with determination
Shake in one’s shoes– to be very nervous or afraid of often visible so
Red tape- a lot of forms and procedures that have to be done so the governments insurance companies etc can approve something
Rest on your laurels- be so satisfied with what one has already done or achieved that one makes no further effort
Without rhyme or reason- no logical reason
Ride high- be successful
Rue the day- to feel sorry about an event
Run amok or gone amok- to make a furious and desperate charge, to behave without control in a wild or dangerous manner
Run the gauntlet- criticism
Run of the mill- lacking unusual or special aspect
Rusty needle- badly damaged but still works
Ride roughshod over- to treat someone or something with brutality or disdain
Run halter skelter– disorder confused, random movement
Run its course- complete its natural development without interference
Sacred cow– honorable person never criticized
Safe bet- safe and sound
Sail in the same boat– in a same (adverse) situation
Save someone’s bacon- rescue someone from danger or difficulty
Save your skin- save oneself from danger
See eye to eye– to agree
See red – upset angry suddenly
Seed money- money allocated to initiate a project
Send someone packing– make someone leak in an abrupt
Shifting sands- variable situation
Fire/shoot from the hip– say anything without care of someone’s situation
Short shrift– little attention or consideration
Sink or swim- either must succeed by his or her own efforts or fail completely
Sit pretty- in a good or beneficial situation
Sit well with– to agree with or accept
Sitting duck– a very easy target
Slap on the wrist- a little punishment
Slippery customer- someone you should not trust
Photo finish- a close contest/ a race or contest in which contestants are so close to finish
Pie in the sky- thought which is unlikely to happen
Play by ear– to decide what to do when you know what is happening rather than planning in advance
Poker face- an impassive expression that hides one’s true feelings
Prim and proper- having very traditional morally conservative beliefs and behavior
Pull your chain- to tease someone by leading them to believe something untrue
Pup’s chance– no chance
Put to the sword- to execute or kill or to severely defeat
Put your foot down– to take a firm stand
Put yourself in someone’s shoes- be or put oneself in another person’s situation or predicament
Pyrrhic victory– victory with heavy loss
Pass oneself off– to try to make others believe that someone or something other then what the person or thing is
Pick a hole in my coat- to find faults in someone to criticize
Pull one’s weight- do one’s fair share of work
Pull out all the stops– make a very great effort to achieve something
Put on airs- behaving like one is better than other people or behaving like boss
Queer fish– a person whose behavior seems strange or unusual
Quick fix- an easy fast and temporary solution of a problem
Rack and ruin- to fall into severe or total decay
Rack your brain – make a great effort to think of or remember something
Raining cats and dogs- heavy rain
Rainy day– days (times) of trouble
Raise eyebrows- to show anger or surprise
Red rag to a bull– something that makes someone angry
Doctor the document- to manipulate the accounts
Dog days – the period in the summer often thought to be hottest
Dog eat dog– a very tough competition
Doubletake- a rapid or surprised second look either literal or figurative
Down and out- lacking funds or prospects; destitute
Down to the wire- waiting until the last minute to do something (in a competition, it is difficult to decide the winner until the last moment)
Down to earth- practical reasonable and friendly
Draw a blank- fail or elicit no successful response
Draw the line- to put a limit on what you will do or allow to happen
Drink like a fish- drink too much
Drive home- to emphasize on a topic
Drive someone up the wall- to upset or trouble someone
Dry run– rehearsal before actual performances
Draw on his fancy- use of imagination in a work(like to write a poem)
Elbow room– enough space or freedom
Even keel- in balanced position
Every nook and cranny- at every possible places
Eye for an eye– tit for tat
Eyewash- deceive
Eye opener – surprising and shocking facts
Enough rope- all someone freedom to do something
Explore every avenue- To investigate or pursue every possible means to find a solution to a given problem or to achieve a desired outcome.
At face value- to evaluate things as it looks (not a deep evaluation)
Fair crack of the whip – same opportunity
Fall from grace– to fall out of favor or go down someone reputation
Fall into line– disciplined
Fall short on- effect less or failed
Fat chance– no chance
Few and far between– rarely
Find your feet– to gain experience and confidence slowly
Fish in troubled waters– To try to capitalize on or benefit from a situation, circumstance, or experience that is fraught with disorder, difficulty, confusion, stress, etc.
Fit the bill– To be helpful, useful, or what is needed in a certain situation.
Flesh and blood – relatives or family
Fly in the ointment- a small, unpleasant matter that spoils something; a drawback.
Fly off the handle – to become very upset
Food for thought – topics or matters of deep thought or consider
Fool’s paradise- completely wrong
Foot in mouth-to say or do something that you should not have, esp. something that embarrasses someone else
Foot the bill – pay the bill
For the time being – for a little time
Foregone conclusion– clear conclusion
Foul play – crime or evil deed
Freudian slip– say something without thinking
From scratch – from the beginning
Full monty- the most or best that you can have, do, get, or achieve, or all that you want or need or appropriate things
Full throttle- with full energy and zeal
Fullness of time- appropriate time
Fall back – back out or back off
Fall foul of – To become disliked or to come in conflict with someone or something due to one’s actions, often resulting in further trouble or conflict.
Get a handle on– To have a firm, clear understanding or determination of something.
Get wind of – to know a secret
Give up the ghost- to die
Go awry– the situation is falling apart in a negative sense, unraveling, gotten chaotic and disorderly, and certainly not the anticipated outcome.
Go bananas- to become crazy, to explode with anger or to erupt with enthusiasm
Go dust– to destroy or damage
Go Dutch– share the cost of something specially a meal
Go hand in hand- walk together
Go nuts- to become crazy
Go the distance- carry through a course of action to completion
Go the extra miles– make a special effort to achieve something
Go the whole hog- to do something as entirely or completely as possible
Go to the wire– take risk everything for the sake of someone’s help
Gone fishing- not aware of happenings around them
Gone to the dogs- deteriorate shockingly specially in behavior or morals
Greek to me- something abstruse
Greenhorn – experience less
Grey area- a concept or topic that is not clearly defined or that exist somewhere between them
Grey cells– brain
Grey matter– intelligence or brain
Grist for the mill- everything can be made useful
Get a raw deal- to receive unfair or poor treatment in a particular situation
Get one’s own back – have one’s revenge
Get one’s point across– to make people understand what one is saying
Get the sack– get dismissed
Give currency- to spread a story around or to make something seem more credible or probable
Give it a shot- to try something often from the first time
Give the game away– to reveal a secret
Go a long way– to become successful
Go to the winds– disappeared, passed vanished permanently or completely
Green fingers or green thumb– very good at gardening
Hale and hearty- completely healthy
Half baked- without- not fully planned or carefully considered, ill-conceived, unsound or badly thought-out; (of a person) foolish or having no common sense.
(Win) hands down – to win easily
Hang by a thread– be in a highly precarious state(be in a risky or unstable situation)
Hangdog expression – look sad and often guilty or ashamed
Hard up– lack of money
(not mark) head or tail of something – something not understands
Head over heels– turning over completely in forwarding motion as in a somersault/ madly in love
Heart in your mouth – nervous or afraid
Heavy-handed – using too much force in dealing with someone
High handed – using power or authority without considering the feelings of others
(hunt) high and low – to look everywhere for someone or something
Hit or miss – uncertain
Hit the bull’s eye – hit the target/ certain or accurate
Hit the nail on the head – exactly and right
Hop skip (step) and a jump – a short distance
Hope against hope – to be very hopeful to happen although knowing that it is not likely happen
Horns of a dilemma – choose between two equally undesirable alternatives
Hunky-dory – satisfactory and pleasant
Have a way with words – to have talent in the effective or stylish use of words
Have the last laugh – finally successful
Have too many irons in the fire – involved with many activities or jobs at the same time or to make certain that there are always several possibilities available
Head will roll – people will be dismissed or forced to resign
Whole nine-yard– everything possible or available
Birds of a feather folk together– people with the same taste or interest will be found together
To chew someone out – to reprimand someone severely
To chip on his shoulder- holding a grudge or grievance that readily provoke a fight
Feeding frenzy-an episode of frantic competition for something
To cry wolf – to raise a false alarm
To cut to chase- to come to the point
To drive someone up the wall- to make someone very irritated
Finding your feet- adjust to a new place or a new situation
To have a field day- to be able to do something that you enjoy especially criticizing someone
To crack someone up – to make someone laugh
Whoop it up – Enjoying in a noisy way, usually in a group
With a vengeance – Used to emphasize the degree to which something occurs
Up against the wall – In an inextricable situation ( in a very bad position or situation)
Reap the whirlwind – Suffer negative consequences as a result of one’s actions
Of the first water – Of the best quality
Weather the storm – Survive a period of difficulty
Spin your wheels – Waste your time or efforts
With the green wallow – Suffer unrequited love
Wild and woolly – Uncouth in appearance or behavior
Give it a whirl – To try out something
Jog someone’s memory – To cause someone to remember something
Be in the red – To be in debt
Foot the bill – To pay for something
Catch 22 – A Particular situation in which one cannot do anything
Carry the can – To take the responsibility of some misdemeanor (minor doings)
Paper over the cracks – To hide problems
Be a dab hand at something – Skilled in a particular area
Get cracking – To start doing something
A hair’s breadth – Telling about the smallest possible amount or degree of something
Come hell or high water – No matter whatever difficulties may occur
Hornet’s nest – A troublesome situation
In the teeth of – Inspite of something
In a flutter – In a nervous state
All Greek to me – Incomprehensible (that can’t explain)
Mealy mouthed – Unwilling to state something
No love lost – Intense Dislike
Out of sorts – To be unwell
Pay lip service – Pretend to regard
Rip up old sores – To revive forgotten quarrel
Rule to roost – To dominate
Alarums and Excursions – Confused activity and uproar
Up in the air ( about someone or something ) – Still to be settled
Give oneself airs -Pretend to be good (to act in a way that shows one thinks one is better than other people She’s very rich, but she doesn’t give herself airs.)
Alphabet soup – Incomprehensible or confusing mix
Be all one to – make no difference
An article of faith – A firmly held belief
In the ascendant – Rising in power or influence
Bring home the bacon – Supply material support
Have the ball at your feet – To be in the best position to do something
Banana Oil – Nonsense talk
As fit as a fiddle – Strong and healthy
Argus eyed – Observant
To bid defiance – To disregard recklessly
With bated breath – In anxiety
To clip one’s wings – To restrict someone’s freedom
Cloven hoof – The evil intention
Draconian law – Extremely severe law
To fall flat – To have no effect
To gird up the lions – To prepare for hard work
High and mighty – Arrogant
Play one’s act – To use one’s best weapon or resource
Aid and abet – To help someone to commit a crime
All over hell’s half-acre – Everywhere
An arrow in the quiver – Strategies that can be followed
Like a shag on a rock – Completely alone
Asleep at the wheel -No attentive to one’s duties
The ayes have it – The affirmative votes are in the majority
Dust and ashes – Something that is very disappointing
Be full of beans – Full of energy and life
To get more kicks than halfpence – Harsh treatment that rewards
A purple weight – an ornate portion in a literary work
Pyrrhic victory – a victory that brings more loss than gain
A quid pro quo– something done in revenge and retaliation
