Random Phrase Generator With Meanings, Examples and Origins: how it works
Press New phrases and five cards appear, each an English idiom or saying with a plain meaning. This random phrase generator does not write new phrases. It draws from a collection of 600 that people already use, and 174 also say where the phrase came from.
What the chips sort by
The seven theme chips sort by the picture a phrase paints, not by what it means: Animals (87), Food (79), Body (99), Weather and nature (89), Money and work (74), Sports and games (72) and Home, travel and time (100). Let the cat out of the bag sits under Animals although it is about secrets. Known origin combines with any theme: with Animals it leaves 35 idioms that say where they came from.
Games and lessons with a random idiom
In an English class, draw five, press Hide all meanings and let students guess before you tap each cover. Printed that way, the list is a worksheet with a blank line under every phrase. For a drawing game, set the size to 1 and sketch the literal picture: the elephant in the room and bull in a china shop draw themselves.
Tips
Idioms rarely translate word for word. French has être du gâteau, to be cake, beside piece of cake, but most phrases have no twin. Translate the meaning.
Proverbs come in pairs that disagree. Many hands make light work, yet too many cooks spoil the broth. Draw ten and hunt for a clash.
One idiom per paragraph is plenty. Check the meaning line first, so it says what you intend.
Questions and answers
Does this generator write new phrases?
No. Every card is an idiom, proverb or simile that English speakers already use, and on 18 September 2026 a script confirmed that all 600 have an English entry on Wiktionary. For new sentences, use the random sentence generator.
What is the difference between an idiom, a proverb and a simile?
An idiom means something other than its words: spill the beans has nothing to do with beans. A proverb is a traditional saying that states common sense, such as a stitch in time saves nine. A simile compares two things, often with like or as: busy as a bee.
Where do the origin notes come from?
Each note paraphrases the Etymology section of the phrase's Wiktionary entry, and hedges where the dictionary hedges. A year in a note is the earliest use the entry records, not a proven first. Turn a blind eye is often credited to Admiral Nelson in 1801, but Wiktionary reports earlier uses, and the note says so. Raining cats and dogs and break a leg are marked unknown there and carry no note.
a bird in the hand is worth two in the bushWhat you have beats what you only might get. Origin: a Latin proverb.
a leopard can't change its spotsPeople cannot change their nature. Origin: the Bible, Jeremiah 13:23.
a little bird told meI heard it from someone I will not name. "A little bird told me it is your birthday."
ants in your pantsUnable to sit still. "He has had ants in his pants all lesson."
as the crow fliesIn a straight line. "It is two miles as the crow flies, five by road."
bark up the wrong treeTo look for answers in the wrong place. Origin: a hunting dog barking at the wrong tree.
beat a dead horseTo keep arguing a point that is already settled. "We lost the vote, so stop beating a dead horse."
bee in your bonnetAn idea you cannot stop talking about. "He has a bee in his bonnet about recycling."
the bee's kneesSomething excellent. "This new bakery is the bee's knees." Origin: 1920s animal nonsense slang.
big fish in a small pondAn important person in a small group. "He liked being a big fish in a small pond."
bird's-eye viewA view from high above. "The tower gives a bird's-eye view of the old town."
birds of a feather flock togetherPeople who are alike tend to stick together. "All three love chess, and birds of a feather flock together."
the black sheepThe odd one out in a family or group. "Uncle Ray is the black sheep of the family."
bull in a china shopA clumsy person in a delicate setting. "He was a bull in a china shop at the tea party."
bury your head in the sandTo ignore a problem and hope it goes away. Origin: a myth about ostriches.
busy as a beeVery busy. "She has been busy as a bee all morning."
butterflies in your stomachA fluttery, nervous feeling. "I get butterflies in my stomach before a show."
canary in a coal mineAn early warning. "The empty shop was a canary in a coal mine." Origin: miners' canaries warned of gas.
cash cowA steady source of easy profit. "The old game is still the studio's cash cow."
cat got your tongueSaid to someone who is oddly silent. "You are quiet today. Cat got your tongue?"
cry wolfTo raise a false alarm so often that nobody believes you. Origin: the fable The Boy Who Cried Wolf.
curiosity killed the catBeing too nosy can get you into trouble. Origin: the older saying care killed the cat.
dark horseA little-known competitor who might win. Origin: horse racing, in an 1831 Disraeli novel.
don't count your chickens before they hatchDo not rely on a good result until it happens. Origin: in English verse by 1570.
don't look a gift horse in the mouthDo not find fault with something you got for free. Origin: a Latin proverb quoted by St Jerome, c. 400.
the early bird gets the wormWhoever starts first has the best chance. "I queued at six, since the early bird gets the worm."
the elephant in the roomA big problem that nobody wants to mention. Origin: probably American; some point to an 1814 Krylov fable.
every dog has its dayEveryone gets a moment of success. "We finally won one. Every dog has its day."
fat catA rich and powerful person. "The fat cats got their bonuses." Origin: 1920s US slang for political donors.
feather in your capA proud achievement. "The prize is a feather in her cap." Origin: a feather worn to mark a brave deed.
fish out of waterSomeone uneasy in an unfamiliar place. "At the gala I felt like a fish out of water."
fly in the ointmentA small flaw in something good. "The rain was the fly in the ointment." Origin: the Bible, Ecclesiastes 10:1.
fly on the wallAn unnoticed watcher. "I would love to be a fly on the wall in that meeting."
frog in your throatA hoarse voice. "Excuse me, I have a frog in my throat."
get off your high horseTo stop acting as if you are better than others. "Get off your high horse and help us."
get someone's goatTo annoy someone. "That smug grin really gets my goat."
get your ducks in a rowTo get well organized before you start. "Get your ducks in a row before the audit."
go down the rabbit holeTo get lost in a strange or endless topic. Origin: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
guinea pigSomeone used to test something new. "I was the guinea pig for his new recipe."
happy as a clamVery content. "Give her a book and she is happy as a clam." Origin: in full, happy as a clam at high tide.
have bigger fish to fryTo have more important things to do. "Forget the typo, we have bigger fish to fry."
hold your horsesTo wait and be patient. "Hold your horses, the oven is still heating."
in the doghouseIn disgrace with someone. "I forgot the tickets, so I am in the doghouse."
kill two birds with one stoneTo get two things done with one effort. Origin: found in a 1646 letter to Thomas Hobbes.
lame duckAn official in the last stretch of a term, with little power. Origin: 1760s London Stock Exchange slang.
let sleeping dogs lieTo leave an old problem alone. "I almost brought it up, then let sleeping dogs lie."
let the cat out of the bagTo reveal a secret by mistake. Origin: a cat sold in a bag as if it were a pig.
like herding catsTrying to organize people who will not be organized. "Getting toddlers into coats is like herding cats."
like water off a duck's backHaving no effect on someone. "Criticism is like water off a duck's back to her."
the lion's shareThe biggest part of something. "He took the lion's share of the pie." Origin: Aesop's fable The Lion's Share.
lone wolfSomeone who prefers to work or live alone. "She is a lone wolf in a team sport."
monkey businessSilly or dishonest behavior. "No monkey business while I am out."
monkey see, monkey doPeople copy what they see without thinking. "She wore odd socks, then so did he. Monkey see, monkey do."
night owlA person who stays up late. "I am a night owl and do my best work after ten."
open a can of wormsTo start something that causes many new problems. "Asking about the will opened a can of worms."
packed like sardinesCrowded tightly into a small space. "We were packed like sardines on the train."
pecking orderThe ranking of members inside a group. Origin: a translation of German Hackordnung.
play cat and mouseTo tease or chase an opponent without finishing it. "The detective played cat and mouse with the thief."
pull a rabbit out of a hatTo produce a surprise fix. "The coach pulled a rabbit out of a hat." Origin: the stage magician's trick.
put the cart before the horseTo do things in the wrong order. "Buying paint before the house is putting the cart before the horse."
quiet as a mouseVery quiet. "The class was quiet as a mouse during the test."
the rat raceThe tiring daily struggle for money and status. "They left the rat race for a farm."
red herringA misleading clue. "The muddy boots were a red herring." Origin: a smelly cured fish said to mislead hounds.
ruffle some feathersTo annoy or upset people. "The new rules ruffled some feathers."
sitting duckAn easy target. "Without a goalkeeper we were sitting ducks." Origin: duck hunting; popular as WWII slang.
smell a ratTo suspect that something is wrong. "The price was so low that I smelled a rat."
snake in the grassA hidden enemy. "The friendly rival proved a snake in the grass." Origin: a line in Virgil's third Eclogue.
snug as a bug in a rugVery cozy. "Wrapped in the quilt, she was snug as a bug in a rug."
spread your wingsTo try new things on your own. "College is the time to spread your wings."
straight from the horse's mouthFrom the person who knows. "I heard it straight from the horse's mouth." Origin: British horse-racing tips.
the straw that broke the camel's backThe last small problem that makes it all too much. Origin: possibly an Arab proverb.
swan songA final performance. "The tour was their swan song." Origin: the belief that swans sing before dying.
the tail wagging the dogA small part controlling the whole. Origin: heard in the 1858 play Our American Cousin.
take someone under your wingTo guide and look after a newcomer. "The captain took the rookie under her wing."
take the bull by the hornsTo face a problem directly. "She took the bull by the horns and asked for a raise."
ugly ducklingA plain thing that grows into something fine. Origin: a Danish fairy tale.
until the cows come homeFor a very long time. "You can argue until the cows come home."
whale of a timeA very enjoyable time. "The kids had a whale of a time at the fair."
when pigs flyNever. "He will tidy his room when pigs fly."
white elephantA costly, useless thing. "The stadium is a white elephant." Origin: Siam's sacred, costly white elephants.
wild goose chaseA long search for something you cannot find. Origin: a 16th-century horse race.
wing itTo do something without preparing. "I lost my notes and had to wing it."
wolf in sheep's clothingA threat that seems friendly. "That salesman is a wolf in sheep's clothing." Origin: the Bible, Matthew 7:15.
work like a dogTo work very hard. "She worked like a dog to finish on time."
the world is your oysterYou are free to do anything you like. Origin: Shakespeare's Merry Wives of Windsor.
wouldn't hurt a flyIs very gentle. "He looks fierce but wouldn't hurt a fly."
you can't teach an old dog new tricksPeople set in their ways are hard to change. "Dad won't use the app. You can't teach an old dog new tricks."
Food 79
a lot on your plateMany things to deal with. "I have a lot on my plate this week."
a watched pot never boilsTime drags when you wait impatiently. "Stop refreshing the page. A watched pot never boils."
an apple a day keeps the doctor awayA saying that eating well keeps you healthy. Origin: a Welsh rhyme of 1866.
the apple doesn't fall far from the treeChildren often resemble their parents. "He paints like his mom. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree."
apple of your eyeThe person you love most. "Her son is the apple of her eye." Origin: Old English for the pupil of the eye.
apples and orangesTwo things too different to compare. "Comparing a bike to a bus is apples and oranges."
bad appleOne person who spoils a group. "One bad apple got the class kept in." Origin: one bad apple spoils the bunch.
bear fruitTo produce good results. "Months of practice began to bear fruit."
best thing since sliced breadA very good new thing. "He thinks his new phone is the best thing since sliced bread."
big cheeseAn important person. "She is the big cheese at the museum."
bite off more than you can chewTo take on too much. "Three clubs and a job? You bit off more than you can chew."
bite the hand that feeds youTo turn on someone who helps you. "Insulting your sponsor is biting the hand that feeds you."
bitter pill to swallowAn unpleasant fact you must accept. "Finishing fourth was a bitter pill to swallow."
born with a silver spoon in your mouthBorn into a rich family. "He was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth."
bread and butterYour main source of income. "Weddings are the band's bread and butter."
bring home the baconTo earn the household's money. "Both parents bring home the bacon."
carrot and stickA mix of reward and punishment. "The coach tried carrot and stick." Origin: two ways to drive a pack animal.
cherry on topThe final touch that makes something perfect. "A sunny day was the cherry on top."
chew the fatTo chat in a relaxed way. "We sat on the porch and chewed the fat."
cool as a cucumberVery calm under pressure. "She walked on stage cool as a cucumber."
couch potatoA person who lazes in front of a TV. "I turn into a couch potato in January." Origin: a 1976 pun on TV slang.
cream of the cropThe very best of a group. "These singers are the cream of the crop."
cry over spilled milkTo be upset about what cannot be undone. "The vase is broken. No use crying over spilled milk."
cut the mustardTo be good enough. "The old laptop no longer cuts the mustard."
easy as pieVery easy. "With the new app, booking is easy as pie."
eat humble pieTo admit you were wrong and apologize. Origin: umble pie, made from deer innards.
eat your wordsTo take back what you said. "He said we would lose and had to eat his words."
egg on your faceEmbarrassment after a public mistake. "The forecaster had egg on his face when it snowed."
finger in every pieInvolvement in many activities. "She has a finger in every pie at school."
flat as a pancakeCompletely flat. "The tire was flat as a pancake."
food for thoughtSomething worth thinking about. "Her talk gave me food for thought."
forbidden fruitSomething tempting because it is not allowed. Origin: the Bible, Genesis 2:17.
full of beansLively and full of energy. "The puppy is full of beans this morning."
go bananasTo get very excited or wild. "The crowd went bananas at the final whistle."
good eggA kind, reliable person. "Thanks for the lift, you are a good egg." Origin: probably a twist on bad egg.
gravy trainAn easy way to make money. "The sequel kept the gravy train rolling." Origin: said to be US railroad slang.
have your cake and eat it tooTo want both of two clashing things. "Skip practice and still play? You can't have your cake and eat it too."
hear it through the grapevineTo learn something from gossip. "I heard it through the grapevine." Origin: an 1859 US telegraph line.
hot potatoA touchy issue nobody wants to handle. "The parking plan is a political hot potato."
icing on the cakeAn extra that makes a good thing better. "The free parking was the icing on the cake."
in a nutshellIn very few words. "In a nutshell, we ran out of time." Origin: Pliny's tale of the Iliad in a nutshell.
in a pickleIn trouble. "I lost my keys, so I am in a pickle." Origin: pickling brine; Shakespeare used it in The Tempest.
know which side your bread is buttered onTo know who or what benefits you. "She is polite to the boss. She knows which side her bread is buttered on."
land of milk and honeyA place of plenty. "They imagined the city as a land of milk and honey." Origin: the Bible, Exodus 3.
like a kid in a candy storeThrilled by too many good choices. "In the bookshop he was like a kid in a candy store."
low-hanging fruitThe easiest tasks or wins. "Fix the typos first, they are the low-hanging fruit."
meat and potatoesThe basic, most important part. "Drills are the meat and potatoes of training."
not my cup of teaNot something I enjoy. "Horror films are not my cup of tea."
on a silver platterGiven without any effort from you. "Nobody hands you a career on a silver platter."
on the back burnerSet aside for now. "The garden project is on the back burner."
out of the frying pan and into the fireFrom a bad situation to a worse one. "My new job is worse: out of the frying pan and into the fire."
pie in the skyA pleasant idea that is unlikely to happen. Origin: a 1911 song by labor activist Joe Hill.
piece of cakeSomething very easy. "The quiz was a piece of cake." Origin: American English, 1930s.
the pot calling the kettle blackBlaming someone for a fault you share. Origin: pots and kettles both blackened by fire.
the proof is in the puddingYou only know how good something is by trying it. Origin: short for the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
put all your eggs in one basketTo risk everything on one plan. "Apply to several schools. Don't put all your eggs in one basket."
rub salt in the woundTo make a painful thing hurt more. "Losing was bad. The replay rubbed salt in the wound."
salad daysYouthful, inexperienced years. "In my salad days I knew it all." Origin: Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra.
salt of the earthA plain, honest, good person. "Our neighbors are the salt of the earth." Origin: the Bible, Matthew 5:13.
scrape the bottom of the barrelTo use the last and worst options. "With that excuse you are scraping the bottom of the barrel."
sell like hotcakesTo sell fast and in large numbers. "The tickets sold like hotcakes." Origin: America's 1800s love of pancakes.
separate the wheat from the chaffTo sort good from bad. "Tryouts separate the wheat from the chaff." Origin: threshing; see Matthew 3:12.
smart cookieA clever person. "She fixed it in a minute, the smart cookie."
sour grapesPretending to dislike what you cannot have. Origin: Aesop's fable The Fox and the Grapes.
spill the beansTo give away a secret. "Who spilled the beans about the gift?"
sweet toothA love of sugary food. "My sweet tooth wakes up at about nine at night."
take it with a grain of saltTo not fully believe something. "Take his fish stories with a grain of salt." Origin: Latin cum grano salis.
that's the way the cookie crumblesThat is how things go, and it cannot be helped. "We lost the toss. That's the way the cookie crumbles."
too many cooks spoil the brothToo many people on one task ruin it. "Five editors is too many. Too many cooks spoil the broth."
tough nut to crackA hard problem or a hard person to figure out. "The last puzzle was a tough nut to crack."
two peas in a podVery alike. "The cousins are two peas in a pod."
upset the apple cartTo spoil a careful plan. "A late entry upset the apple cart."
variety is the spice of lifeNew experiences make life interesting. "I take a new route each day. Variety is the spice of life."
wake up and smell the coffeeTo face the facts. "Wake up and smell the coffee, the deadline is Friday."
walk on eggshellsTo be very careful not to upset someone. "We walked on eggshells around the tired toddler."
when life gives you lemons, make lemonadeMake the best of a bad situation. "No flight? Tour the town. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."
whet your appetiteTo make you want more. "The trailer whetted my appetite for the film."
worth your saltGood at your job. "Any plumber worth his salt can fix that." Origin: perhaps salary, from Latin sal, salt.
you can't make an omelette without breaking eggsBig results need some sacrifice. Origin: a French proverb.
Body 99
all earsListening eagerly. "Tell me what happened, I am all ears."
all thumbsClumsy with your hands. "I am all thumbs when I wrap presents." Origin: a proverb in John Heywood, 1546.
bad bloodLasting ill feeling. "There is bad blood between the clubs."
beauty is only skin deepLooks matter less than character. "The car is pretty but keeps stalling. Beauty is only skin deep."
behind someone's backWithout someone knowing. "They planned the surprise behind her back."
bite someone's head offTo answer angrily for no good reason. "I only asked the time and he bit my head off."
bite your tongueTo stop yourself from speaking. "I bit my tongue when he praised his own cooking."
blood is thicker than waterFamily ties come first. "He hired his cousin, since blood is thicker than water."
blood, sweat and tearsVery hard work. "That garden took blood, sweat and tears." Origin: made famous by a 1940 Churchill speech.
bone to pickA complaint to discuss with someone. "I have a bone to pick with you about my bike."
break a legGood luck, said to a performer. "Break a leg tonight, you know every line."
breathe down someone's neckTo watch someone too closely. "I can't work with you breathing down my neck."
by the skin of your teethOnly just. "I caught the train by the skin of my teeth." Origin: the Bible, Job 19:20.
caught red-handedCaught in the act. "He was caught red-handed with the last cookie." Origin: 15th-century Scots law.
change of heartA change in how you feel about something. "He had a change of heart and stayed."
chip on your shoulderA grudge that makes you easily angered. Origin: a 19th-century US dare to fight.
cold feetSudden nerves about a plan. "He got cold feet before the audition."
cold shoulderDeliberate unfriendliness. "She gave me the cold shoulder all week."
cost an arm and a legTo be very expensive. "The repair cost an arm and a leg."
cut off your nose to spite your faceTo harm yourself just to punish someone. "Don't quit in anger and cut off your nose to spite your face."
drag your feetTo delay on purpose. "The council is dragging its feet on the repairs."
elbow greaseHard physical effort. "That pan needs some elbow grease."
face the musicTo accept the results of what you did. "I broke the window, so I must face the music."
fight tooth and nailTo fight with all your effort. "They fought tooth and nail to keep the library open." Origin: Middle English.
foot the billTo pay for something. "The club footed the bill for the bus."
get off on the wrong footTo start badly with someone. "We got off on the wrong foot but are friends now."
get on someone's nervesTo annoy someone. "That ticking clock gets on my nerves."
get out of handTo become hard to control. "The food fight got out of hand."
get under someone's skinTo irritate someone. "His humming gets under my skin."
green thumbA talent for growing plants. "My aunt has a green thumb."
gut feelingAn instinct you cannot explain. "I had a gut feeling the shop would be shut."
hands downEasily, without doubt. "Hands down the best pizza here." Origin: a jockey dropping his hands near a sure win.
have someone's backTo be ready to support someone. "Don't worry about the meeting, I have your back."
have your hands fullTo be very busy. "With triplets they have their hands full."
head over heelsCompletely, usually about being in love. Origin: 14th century, at first heels over head.
heart of goldA very kind nature. "She is gruff, but she has a heart of gold."
in one ear and out the otherHeard but quickly forgotten. "My advice went in one ear and out the other."
in the blink of an eyeExtremely fast. "The summer went by in the blink of an eye."
joined at the hipAlways together. "Those two have been joined at the hip since camp."
keep a straight faceTo manage not to laugh. "I couldn't keep a straight face during the speech."
keep an eye onTo watch carefully. "Keep an eye on the soup."
keep your eyes peeledTo watch closely for something. "Keep your eyes peeled for a parking space." Origin: US, 19th century.
keep your fingers crossedTo hope for good luck. "Keep your fingers crossed for sun on Saturday."
keep your head above waterTo just manage to cope. "With two jobs she keeps her head above water."
know it like the back of your handTo know something very well. "I know this town like the back of my hand."
land on your feetTo end up fine after trouble. "She lost the job but landed on her feet."
learn by heartTo memorize. "We learned the poem by heart."
lend a handTo help. "Can you lend a hand with these boxes?"
let your hair downTo relax and enjoy yourself. "Exams are over, so let your hair down."
lip serviceSupport in words only. "The firm pays lip service to recycling."
long in the toothGetting old. "My car is a bit long in the tooth." Origin: possibly judging a horse's age by its teeth.
many hands make light workA job goes faster when people share it. "Grab a brush. Many hands make light work."
more than meets the eyeMore complicated than it first seems. "There is more to this case than meets the eye."
music to my earsVery welcome news. "No homework? That is music to my ears."
my hands are tiedI am not free to act. "I would refund you, but my hands are tied."
my lips are sealedI will keep the secret. "Don't worry, my lips are sealed."
nerves of steelGreat calm in scary situations. "A bomb squad needs nerves of steel."
nose to the grindstoneHard, steady work. "Keep your nose to the grindstone." Origin: working a grindstone; in print by the 1530s.
not have a leg to stand onTo have no proof or support for your claim. "Without the receipt he doesn't have a leg to stand on."
off the top of your headFrom memory, without checking. "Off the top of my head, it opens at nine."
on its last legsClose to breaking down or giving up. "Our washing machine is on its last legs."
on the tip of your tongueAlmost remembered. "His name is on the tip of my tongue."
on your toesAlert and ready. "Pop quizzes keep us on our toes."
pain in the neckAn annoying person or thing. "This form is a pain in the neck."
pat on the backPraise for good work. "The whole crew deserves a pat on the back."
pay through the noseTo pay far too much. "We paid through the nose for airport sandwiches."
pick someone's brainTo ask an expert for ideas. "Can I pick your brain about cameras?"
play it by earTo decide as things happen. "We have no plan, so let's play it by ear."
pull someone's legTo tease with a made-up story. "I was only pulling your leg." Origin: a Scottish phrase for fooling someone.
put your best foot forwardTo try to make a good impression. "Put your best foot forward at the interview."
put your foot downTo refuse firmly. "Mom put her foot down about a third dog."
put your foot in your mouthTo say something awkward by mistake. Origin: 1880s, from put your foot in it.
rack your brainTo think very hard. "I racked my brain for her surname." Origin: the rack, a torture device.
rule of thumbA rough, practical guide. "As a rule of thumb, water the plant weekly."
save faceTo avoid looking foolish. "He changed the subject to save face."
see eye to eyeTo agree. "We do not see eye to eye on music."
shoulder to cry onSomeone who listens to your troubles. "He was a shoulder to cry on after the move."
slip of the tongueA small spoken mistake. "Calling her Anna was a slip of the tongue." Origin: Latin lapsus linguae.
split hairsTo argue over tiny details. "Let's not split hairs over two cents."
stick out like a sore thumbTo be very noticeable. "In a suit at the beach he stuck out like a sore thumb."
stick your neck outTo take a risk for something. "I stuck my neck out to recommend him."
stiff upper lipCalm courage in hard times. "He kept a stiff upper lip." Origin: American; in print by the 1810s.
thick skinThe ability to ignore criticism. "A referee needs a thick skin."
think on your feetTo react quickly and cleverly. "A good host can think on her feet."
toe the lineTo do what the rules expect. "New members soon learn to toe the line."
tongue-in-cheekMeant as a joke, not seriously. "It was a tongue-in-cheek review."
turn a blind eyeTo pretend not to notice. "The guard turned a blind eye." Origin: often linked to Nelson in 1801, but older.
twist someone's armTo persuade someone who is reluctant. "You twisted my arm, I will have a slice."
two heads are better than oneTwo people solve a problem better than one. "Let's check it together. Two heads are better than one."
two left feetClumsiness at dancing. "I have two left feet, so I will watch."
up in armsAngry and protesting. "Parents are up in arms about the new timetable."
wash your hands ofTo disown any responsibility for. "She washed her hands of the project." Origin: the Bible, Matthew 27:24.
wear your heart on your sleeveTo show your feelings openly. "He wears his heart on his sleeve."
wet behind the earsYoung and inexperienced. "He is still wet behind the ears." Origin: 1850s Pennsylvania, from German.
with open armsWith a warm welcome. "The team greeted her with open arms."
word of mouthNews passed by people talking. "The cafe grew by word of mouth."
wrapped around your little fingerEasy for you to control. "The baby has Grandpa wrapped around her little finger."
you scratch my back and I'll scratch yoursIf you help me, I will help you. "Cover my shift. You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours."
young at heartStill youthful in spirit. "Grandma is eighty and young at heart."
Weather and nature 89
a rolling stone gathers no mossA person who keeps moving avoids ties and duties. "He changes towns yearly. A rolling stone gathers no moss."
add fuel to the fireTo make an argument or problem worse. "His joke only added fuel to the fire."
beat around the bushTo avoid the main point. "Stop beating around the bush and tell me the score."
bed of rosesAn easy, comfortable life. "Farming is no bed of roses." Origin: a Marlowe poem of 1599.
between a rock and a hard placeStuck with two bad choices. Origin: the US Southwest, before 1918.
break new groundTo do something never done before. "The film broke new ground in animation."
break the iceTo get strangers talking and relaxed. "A silly game broke the ice."
breath of fresh airA welcome change. "The new teacher is a breath of fresh air."
burn your bridgesTo make it impossible to go back. "Don't burn your bridges." Origin: armies cutting off their own retreat.
calm before the stormA quiet spell before trouble or activity. "The empty cafe at eleven is the calm before the storm."
can't see the forest for the treesToo caught up in details to see the whole. Origin: recorded by John Heywood in 1546.
clear as mudNot clear at all. "The instructions were clear as mud."
clear the airTo settle bad feeling by talking. "We had a chat to clear the air."
come rain or shineWhatever happens. "He walks the dog every morning, come rain or shine."
crack of dawnVery early in the morning. "We left at the crack of dawn."
draw the short strawTo be the one picked for an unwanted job. "I drew the short straw and cleaned the grill."
drop in the oceanA tiny amount next to what is needed. "Ten dollars is a drop in the ocean for that roof."
every cloud has a silver liningBad times bring some good too. "I missed the bus but met an old friend. Every cloud has a silver lining."
everything under the sunEverything you can think of. "That stall sells everything under the sun."
fight fire with fireTo use your opponent's own methods. "They cut prices, so we fought fire with fire."
gild the lilyTo spoil something fine by adding to it. Origin: a misquote of Shakespeare's King John.
go out on a limbTo take a risk by stating a bold view. "I will go out on a limb and say we win by three."
go with the flowTo accept things as they come. "I had no plan, so I went with the flow."
grasp at strawsTo try anything in a hopeless situation. Origin: a drowning man grabbing a straw; used by Thomas More in 1534.
the grass is always greener on the other sideOther lives look better than your own. "I envy his job. The grass is always greener on the other side."
head in the cloudsDaydreaming and out of touch. "He has his head in the clouds during math."
hit the ground runningTo start at full speed. "The new coach hit the ground running."
hold waterTo stand up to checking. "His excuse does not hold water."
in hot waterIn trouble. "I am in hot water for forgetting the milk."
knock on woodSaid to keep good luck going. "The car has never broken down, knock on wood."
leave no stone unturnedTo search everywhere. "We left no stone unturned looking for the ring."
lightning never strikes twiceA saying that rare luck will not repeat. "I won the raffle last year, and lightning never strikes twice."
make a mountain out of a molehillTo treat a small problem as a big one. "It is one typo. Don't make a mountain out of a molehill."
make hay while the sun shinesTo use a good chance while it lasts. Origin: a Tudor saying, in print by 1546.
move heaven and earthTo do everything possible. "He moved heaven and earth to get home for the birthday."
muddy the watersTo make a matter more confusing. "Extra rules will only muddy the waters."
neck of the woodsA local area. "What brings you to this neck of the woods?"
needle in a haystackSomething nearly impossible to find. "Finding my contact lens on the beach was a needle in a haystack."
nip it in the budTo stop a problem before it grows. "The teacher nipped the gossip in the bud."
olive branchAn offer of peace. "She sent flowers as an olive branch." Origin: a peace symbol since Ancient Greece.
on cloud nineExtremely happy. "She has been on cloud nine since the results."
on thin iceIn a risky position. "After two warnings he is on thin ice."
once in a blue moonVery rarely. "We eat out once in a blue moon."
out of the blueWithout warning. "An old classmate called me out of the blue." Origin: a clipped form of out of the blue sky.
out of the woodsPast the danger. "The patient is not out of the woods yet."
out of thin airFrom nowhere. "He seems to pull ideas out of thin air."
over the hillPast your best years. "He is forty, not over the hill."
over the moonDelighted. "He was over the moon about the puppy." Origin: the nursery rhyme Hey Diddle Diddle.
play with fireTo take a foolish risk. "Skipping the safety check is playing with fire."
plenty more fish in the seaThere are many other people or chances out there. "Don't mope, there are plenty more fish in the sea."
rain on someone's paradeTo spoil someone's good mood or plans. "I hate to rain on your parade, but the pool is shut."
raining cats and dogsRaining very hard. "Take a coat, it is raining cats and dogs."
reach for the starsTo aim very high. "Her coach told her to reach for the stars."
right as rainPerfectly well. "A good sleep and you will be right as rain."
rock bottomThe lowest possible point. "Morale hit rock bottom in February."
rose-colored glassesA view that sees only the good. "She remembers school through rose-colored glasses." Origin: in use by 1830.
save for a rainy dayTo keep money for a time of need. "She saves part of each paycheck for a rainy day."
sea changeA deep and lasting transformation. "Remote work brought a sea change." Origin: Shakespeare's The Tempest.
second windNew energy after being tired. "I got a second wind after lunch."
set in stoneFixed and impossible to change. "The date is not set in stone."
seventh heavenA state of great happiness. "With a new book and a quiet house I am in seventh heaven."
shrinking violetA very shy person. "On stage she is no shrinking violet."
the sky's the limitThere is no upper limit. "With your grades, the sky's the limit."
sleep like a logTo sleep very soundly. "I slept like a log after the hike."
snowed underHaving far too much work. "I am snowed under with marking."
spread like wildfireTo spread extremely fast. "The news spread like wildfire."
stand your groundTo refuse to back down. "She stood her ground about the refund."
steal someone's thunderTo take the attention someone else earned. Origin: a playwright's thunder effect, 1704.
still waters run deepQuiet people can have deep feelings. "He rarely speaks, but still waters run deep." Origin: a Latin proverb.
stop and smell the rosesTo slow down and enjoy life. "You work too hard. Stop and smell the roses."
storm in a teacupA big fuss about a small thing. "The row over the seating plan was a storm in a teacup."
take a rain checkTo politely put off an invitation. "Can I take a rain check on dinner?"
take by stormTo become suddenly very popular with. "The young singer took the town by storm."
take the wind out of someone's sailsTo make someone suddenly less confident. Origin: one ship blocking another's wind.
test the watersTo try something a little before committing. "She tested the waters with one evening class."
throw caution to the windTo take a risk boldly. "I threw caution to the wind and sang a solo."
tip of the icebergA small visible part of a much bigger problem. Origin: most of an iceberg lies under water.
turn over a new leafTo start behaving better. "He turned over a new leaf and gets up early now."
turn the tideTo reverse the way things are going. "Her goal turned the tide of the match."
under the weatherSlightly ill. "I am a bit under the weather today." Origin: nautical, from under the weather bow.
up in the airUndecided. "Our holiday plans are still up in the air."
up the creek without a paddleIn trouble with no way out. "With a dead phone and no map, we were up the creek without a paddle."
uphill battleA struggle against poor odds. "Getting teens up before noon is an uphill battle."
water under the bridgePast trouble that no longer matters. "We argued years ago, but it is water under the bridge."
weather the stormTo get through a difficult time. "The shop weathered the storm and reopened."
when it rains, it poursProblems tend to arrive all at once. "First a flat tire, then a parking ticket. When it rains, it pours."
when the dust settlesWhen things calm down. "We will talk again when the dust settles."
where there's smoke, there's fireA rumor usually has some truth behind it. "Three people complained, and where there's smoke, there's fire."
you reap what you sowActions decide results. "He never practiced. You reap what you sow." Origin: the Bible, Galatians 6:7.
Money and work 74
a dime a dozenVery common and so not worth much. "Phone cases are a dime a dozen."
a penny for your thoughtsTell me what you are thinking. "You are very quiet. A penny for your thoughts?"
a penny saved is a penny earnedSaving money is as useful as earning it. Origin: in print by about 1804; often wrongly credited to Franklin.
all in a day's workA normal part of the job. "Rescuing a cat from a tree is all in a day's work."
all that glitters is not goldWhat looks valuable may not be. Origin: Latin; spread by The Merchant of Venice.
all work and no play makes Jack a dull boyNobody should work all the time. "Take the weekend off. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."
back to the drawing boardTime to start planning again. Origin: a 1941 New Yorker cartoon caption.
bang for your buckValue for the money you spend. "The bus pass gives the most bang for your buck."
bottom lineThe most important point, or the final total. Origin: the last line of an accounting statement.
break the bankTo cost more than you can afford. "A picnic won't break the bank."
the buck stops hereI take final responsibility. "In this kitchen the buck stops here." Origin: popularized by President Truman.
burn a hole in your pocketOf money, to tempt you to spend it. "His birthday money is burning a hole in his pocket."
burn the candle at both endsTo wear yourself out with too little rest. Origin: an 18th-century French saying.
burn the midnight oilTo work late into the night. "She burned the midnight oil all week." Origin: working late by oil lamp.
bury the hatchetTo make peace. "The neighbors buried the hatchet." Origin: an Iroquois custom of burying weapons in peace.
business as usualThings going on as normal. "By Monday it was business as usual." Origin: popularized by Churchill in 1914.
by the bookStrictly following the rules. "Our referee does everything by the book."
call it a dayTo stop working for now. "It is dark, so let's call it a day." Origin: from call it half a day, 1830s.
clean bill of healthA report that someone or something is fine. "The vet gave the dog a clean bill of health."
cook the booksTo falsify financial records. "He was caught cooking the books." Origin: a 17th-century metaphor from cooking.
cut cornersTo do something cheaply or badly to save effort. "The builder cut corners on the roof."
deep pocketsPlenty of money to spend. "The club's new owner has deep pockets."
don't quit your day jobA teasing way to say you are not very good at something. "Nice singing, but don't quit your day job."
drive a hard bargainTo negotiate toughly. "My aunt drives a hard bargain at markets."
fit the billTo be exactly what is needed. "A van would fit the bill." Origin: the older fill the bill, maybe a playbill.
get down to businessTo start the serious work. "Coffee first, then we get down to business."
glass ceilingAn unseen barrier to promotion. "She broke the glass ceiling." Origin: coined at a 1978 panel discussion.
go the extra mileTo do more than is expected. "The hotel staff went the extra mile." Origin: possibly the Bible, Matthew 5:41.
gold mineA rich source of something. "The attic was a gold mine of old photos."
golden opportunityAn excellent chance. "The internship is a golden opportunity."
hand over fistFast and in large amounts. "The stall made money hand over fist." Origin: climbing or hauling a rope fast.
have an axe to grindTo have a private reason for getting involved. "He has an axe to grind with the old manager."
have your work cut out for youTo face a hard task. "With forty guests coming, you have your work cut out for you."
he who pays the piper calls the tuneWhoever pays gets to decide. "The sponsor chose the venue. He who pays the piper calls the tune."
highway robberyA price that is far too high. "Six dollars for water is highway robbery."
hit the nail on the headTo say exactly the right thing. "You hit the nail on the head: we need more time."
hold the purse stringsTo control the spending. "Grandma holds the purse strings."
in for a penny, in for a poundHaving started, you may as well go all the way. Origin: old penalties for debt.
in the blackMaking a profit. "One good season put us back in the black." Origin: black ink for profits in account books.
in the redOwing money. "The club has been in the red since spring." Origin: red ink for losses in account books.
jack of all tradesSomeone who can do many kinds of work. "Our caretaker is a jack of all trades."
laugh all the way to the bankTo profit from something others mocked. "They mocked his sock shop, and he laughed all the way to the bank."
learn the ropesTo learn how a job is done. "It took days to learn the ropes." Origin: nautical, from a sailing ship's ropes.
make ends meetTo earn just enough to live on. "He works weekends to make ends meet."
make short work ofTo finish something quickly. "The kids made short work of the pizza."
mean businessTo be serious about what you say. "When she folds her arms, she means business."
mind your own businessTo stay out of other people's affairs. "I was minding my own business when the ball hit me."
money doesn't grow on treesMoney is limited, so spend with care. "No, you can't have both. Money doesn't grow on trees."
money talksMoney buys influence. "They got the best table. Money talks." Origin: 19th century; gold speaks is from 1666.
more than you bargained forA bigger challenge than you expected. "The puppy was more than we bargained for."
nest eggMoney saved for the future. "They built a nest egg over thirty years."
not the sharpest tool in the shedNot very clever. "The goat is not the sharpest tool in the shed."
nuts and boltsThe practical details. "Let's get to the nuts and bolts of the plan."
on the houseFree, paid for by the business. "The dessert was on the house."
pass the buckTo push blame onto someone else. "Each office passed the buck." Origin: may be a poker dealer's marker.
pay the priceTo suffer for a choice you made. "I stayed up late and paid the price this morning."
the penny dropsSomeone finally understands. "I explained it twice before the penny dropped."
penny wise and pound foolishCareful with small sums, careless with large ones. "Skipping the oil change was penny wise and pound foolish."
pick up the tabTo pay for everyone. "The boss picked up the tab for lunch."
pretty pennyA large amount of money. "That watch must have cost a pretty penny."
pull your weightTo do your fair share. "Everyone on the team must pull their weight."
put your money where your mouth isTo back your words with action. "If the idea is so good, put your money where your mouth is."
rags to richesFrom poverty to wealth. "Hers is a true rags to riches story."
red tapeOfficial rules that slow everything down. Origin: red tape once used to bind official papers.
rob Peter to pay PaulTo pay one debt by creating another. "Using the rent money for the car is robbing Peter to pay Paul."
talk is cheapPromising is easier than doing. "He says he will help, but talk is cheap." Origin: in a play by about 1783.
talk shopTo discuss work outside work. "No talking shop at the barbecue."
throw a wrench in the worksTo ruin a plan with a sudden problem. "The rain threw a wrench in the works."
tighten your beltTo spend less. "We tightened our belts after the move."
time is moneyWasted time costs money. "Start on the hour. Time is money." Origin: attributed to Benjamin Franklin, 1748.
tough as nailsVery strong and determined. "My grandmother was tough as nails."
two centsYour opinion, offered unasked. "Can I put in my two cents?"
work like a charmTo succeed perfectly. "The vinegar trick worked like a charm."
worth its weight in goldExtremely useful. "A good plumber is worth his weight in gold."
Sports and games 72
ace up your sleeveA secret advantage. "The coach still had an ace up her sleeve." Origin: cheating at cards with a hidden ace.
across the boardCovering everyone or everything. "Pay rose across the board." Origin: a racing bet on win, place and show.
back in the saddleDoing something again after a break. "After the injury she is back in the saddle."
back to square oneBack where you started. "The file is gone. Back to square one." Origin: probably snakes and ladders.
the ball is in your courtIt is your turn to act. "I have made my offer, so the ball is in your court." Origin: tennis.
ballpark figureA rough estimate. "Give me a ballpark figure for the repairs."
below the beltUnfair and hurtful. "That remark about his haircut was below the belt."
blow the whistleTo report wrongdoing. "A clerk blew the whistle on the fraud." Origin: probably a police officer's whistle.
call someone's bluffTo challenge someone to prove their claim. "She said she could juggle, so I called her bluff."
call the shotsTo make the decisions. "On this trip Grandma calls the shots."
child's playSomething very easy. "For her, long division is child's play."
the die is castA decision has been made that cannot be undone. Origin: Latin, linked to Caesar at the Rubicon.
domino effectOne event setting off a chain of others. "One delayed train caused a domino effect."
down to the wireUndecided until the end. "The vote went down to the wire." Origin: horse racing; a wire marked the finish.
drop the ballTo fail at something you were trusted with. Origin: ball games, where a dropped ball is an error.
follow suitTo do the same as someone else. "One shop cut prices and the rest followed suit."
free reinComplete freedom to act. "The designer was given free rein."
game changerSomething that alters a situation completely. "The dishwasher was a game changer for our house."
get the ball rollingTo get something started. "Let's get the ball rolling with introductions."
give someone a run for their moneyTo compete strongly with someone. Origin: probably horse racing; a figure of speech in print by 1874.
hat trickThree successes in a row. Origin: cricket; a hat was the prize for three wickets.
hedge your betsTo protect yourself by backing more than one option. "She applied to six schools to hedge her bets."
hit the jackpotTo have a big stroke of luck. "We hit the jackpot with this babysitter."
hold all the cardsTo be in full control. "The seller holds all the cards."
home stretchThe final part of a long effort. "We are in the home stretch of the school year."
hook, line and sinkerCompletely, said of believing a trick. Origin: a fish that gulps the whole tackle; a figure of speech by 1838.
house of cardsA plan that could easily collapse. "The scheme fell like a house of cards."
jump the gunTo start too soon. "I jumped the gun and sent the draft."
jump through hoopsTo complete many awkward steps to get something. Origin: circus animals doing tricks.
keep your eye on the ballTo stay focused on what matters. "Keep your eye on the ball this week." Origin: sporting advice, as in golf.
knock it out of the parkTo succeed brilliantly. "The caterers knocked it out of the park."
lay your cards on the tableTo be open about your plans. "Let's lay our cards on the table."
level playing fieldA situation that is fair to everyone. "Blind auditions create a level playing field."
long shotAn attempt that is unlikely to succeed. Origin: early naval guns, poor at long range.
lose your marblesTo lose your good sense. "I thought I had lost my marbles when the keys vanished."
luck of the drawPure chance. "Which dorm you get is the luck of the draw." Origin: drawing cards or lots in games of chance.
move the goalpostsTo change the rules partway through. "He keeps moving the goalposts." Origin: British, from football.
neck and neckLevel in a race or contest. "The two bakers were neck and neck." Origin: racehorses running side by side.
off the hookFreed from a duty or from blame. "The rain let me off the hook for mowing."
on the ballAlert and quick to react. "The new assistant is really on the ball."
on the ropesClose to defeat. "By the third round of the quiz we were on the ropes."
out of left fieldCompletely unexpected. "His question came out of left field."
out of your depthIn a situation too hard for you. "I was out of my depth in the advanced class."
out of your leagueToo good or too hard for you. "That chess club is out of my league."
par for the courseNormal and expected. "A delay on this line is par for the course." Origin: golf.
play your cards close to your chestTo keep your plans secret. "She plays her cards close to her chest."
play your cards rightTo act cleverly to get what you want. "Play your cards right and you could be captain."
poker faceA face that gives nothing away. "He kept a poker face while opening the gift."
pull the stringsTo control events from behind the scenes. "Who is pulling the strings?" Origin: puppets moved by strings.
punch above your weightTo do better than your size suggests. "The town punches above its weight." Origin: boxing weight classes.
raise the barTo set a higher standard. "Last year's show raised the bar."
right off the batImmediately. "I liked her right off the bat."
roll the diceTo take a chance. "We rolled the dice on an outdoor wedding."
roll with the punchesTo adapt to setbacks. "Plans change, so learn to roll with the punches."
saved by the bellRescued at the last second. "I had no answer, but I was saved by the bell."
shot in the darkA wild guess. "My answer was a shot in the dark."
sink or swimTo succeed or fail entirely by your own effort. "New waiters are left to sink or swim."
skin in the gameA personal stake in the outcome. "Investors want founders with skin in the game."
slam dunkA certain success. "With her grades the scholarship was a slam dunk."
slippery slopeA first step that is likely to lead to worse. "One skipped class can be a slippery slope."
smooth sailingEasy progress. "After the first week it was smooth sailing."
step up to the plateTo take responsibility when needed. Origin: baseball: the batter steps up to home plate.
take one for the teamTo accept something unpleasant so the group benefits. "I took one for the team and sat in the middle seat."
take the baitTo fall for a trick or a tease. "I teased him and he took the bait." Origin: fishing with a baited hook.
throw a curveballTo surprise someone with something tricky. "The last exam question threw me a curveball."
throw in the towelTo give up. "After three tries I threw in the towel." Origin: a boxer's corner stopping a fight.
throw your hat in the ringTo announce that you will compete. Origin: a hat thrown in a boxing ring as a challenge.
touch baseTo make brief contact. "Let's touch base on Monday."
up the anteTo raise the stakes or demands. "The rival cafe upped the ante with free refills."
when the chips are downWhen things get difficult. "When the chips are down, she turns up." Origin: poker chips staked on the table.
the whole nine yardsEverything possible. "They had balloons, a band, the whole nine yards."
wild cardAn unpredictable person or factor. "The weather is the wild card this weekend."
Home, travel and time 100
a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single stepBig projects start with one small action. Origin: the Tao Te Ching.
a stitch in time saves nineA quick fix now prevents a bigger job later. Origin: sewing: one early stitch saves nine later.
air your dirty laundry in publicTo discuss private problems where others can hear. "Let's not air our dirty laundry in public."
all hands on deckEveryone is needed to help. "It is all hands on deck before the fair opens."
all roads lead to RomeDifferent methods can reach the same result. Origin: a medieval saying about Roman roads.
around the clockAll day and all night. "The bakery works around the clock before holidays."
at the drop of a hatInstantly, for no special reason. "He sings at the drop of a hat." Origin: dropping a hat to start a contest.
at the eleventh hourAt the last moment. "A sponsor stepped in at the eleventh hour." Origin: the Bible, Matthew 20.
backseat driverSomeone who gives unwanted advice. "I can park by myself, you backseat driver."
batten down the hatchesTo get ready for trouble. "Exam week: batten down the hatches." Origin: sealing a ship's hatches for a storm.
better late than neverDoing something late beats not doing it. Origin: perhaps Latin, from Livy's History of Rome.
blow off steamTo release stress harmlessly. "I go running to blow off steam." Origin: the relief valves on steam engines.
bring the house downTo get huge applause or laughter. "Her final song brought the house down."
bucket listThings you want to do in your lifetime. "Seeing the northern lights is on my bucket list."
by and largeOn the whole. "By and large, the trip went well." Origin: sailing: by is close to the wind, large is downwind.
by the seat of your pantsBy instinct, without a plan. "I ran the first meeting by the seat of my pants."
chip off the old blockA child who is like a parent. "She fixes clocks like her dad, a chip off the old block."
clean slateA fresh start with past mistakes forgotten. "The new term is a clean slate."
the coast is clearNobody is watching, so it is safe. "The coast is clear, bring in the cake."
come cleanTo admit the truth. "He came clean about the broken vase."
cross that bridge when you come to itTo deal with a problem only when it arrives. "We will cross that bridge when we come to it."
cut to the chaseTo get to the point. "Cut to the chase: we need a new roof." Origin: film editors skipping to the chase scene.
down the drainWasted. "All that effort went down the drain."
dressed to the ninesDressed very smartly. "Everyone at the gala was dressed to the nines."
drive someone up the wallTo annoy someone greatly. "That dripping tap drives me up the wall."
the emperor's new clothesSomething praised only because nobody dares disagree. "The plain white canvas was the emperor's new clothes."
everything but the kitchen sinkNearly everything. "She packed everything but the kitchen sink." Origin: popular as 1940s military slang.
fit like a gloveTo fit perfectly. "The secondhand jacket fits like a glove."
flash in the panA success that does not last. Origin: a flintlock's powder flashing, gun not firing.
foot in the doorA first small chance somewhere. "An internship is a foot in the door." Origin: probably door-to-door salesmen.
full steam aheadWith all possible energy and speed. "The permit arrived, so it is full steam ahead."
get on like a house on fireTo become good friends very fast. "The two grandmothers got on like a house on fire."
get up on the wrong side of the bedTo be grumpy from the start of the day. "Somebody got up on the wrong side of the bed."
hang by a threadTo be in a very risky state. "Our lead hung by a thread." Origin: the sword of Damocles, hung by a hair.
haste makes wasteRushing causes mistakes. "I tore the page by hurrying. Haste makes waste."
hit a brick wallTo be unable to make progress. "My research hit a brick wall."
hit the roadTo set off. "We should hit the road before dark."
hit the roofTo become very angry. "Dad hit the roof when he saw the phone bill."
hit the sackTo go to bed. "I am worn out, so I will hit the sack."
if the shoe fits, wear itIf the criticism applies to you, accept it. "I never said you were messy, but if the shoe fits, wear it."
if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchenIf the pressure is too much, leave the job to others. Origin: credited to Harry S. Truman; in print by 1942.
in someone's shoesIn another person's position. "I would not like to be in his shoes on Monday."
in the bagCertain to be won. "With a ten-point lead the match is in the bag."
in the driver's seatIn control. "With a big lead, we are in the driver's seat."
in the nick of timeAt the last possible moment. "We reached the gate in the nick of time."
in the same boatIn the same difficult position. "We all missed the train, so we are in the same boat."
it's like riding a bikeOnce learned, the skill is never forgotten. "I had not skated in years, but it's like riding a bike."
it's not rocket scienceIt is not hard to understand. "Just follow the recipe, it's not rocket science."
jump on the bandwagonTo join something because it is popular. Origin: the band's wagon leading a US parade.
knock your socks offTo amaze you. "The fireworks will knock your socks off."
light at the end of the tunnelA sign that a hard time is nearly over. "One exam left: there is light at the end of the tunnel."
like clockworkSmoothly and exactly on schedule. "The school fair ran like clockwork."
lock, stock and barrelCompletely, with every part included. Origin: the three main parts of a flintlock gun.
loose cannonAn unpredictable person who may cause damage. "He is a loose cannon in interviews."
make yourself at homeRelax as if you were in your own house. "Come in and make yourself at home."
miss the boatTo be too late for a chance. "I missed the boat on the early discount."
nothing to write home aboutNot very special. "The soup was nothing to write home about."
off the beaten pathIn a place few people visit. "We found a cafe off the beaten path."
on a shoestringWith very little money. "They toured Europe on a shoestring."
on pins and needlesNervously waiting. "We were on pins and needles until the results came."
on the edge of your seatExcited and eager to see what happens. "The final kept us on the edge of our seats."
on the fenceUnable to decide. "I am still on the fence about the trip."
on the spur of the momentSuddenly and without planning. "We drove to the coast on the spur of the moment."
Pandora's boxA source of many unexpected troubles. "Reading the comments opened Pandora's box."
people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stonesDo not criticize faults you share. "You are late too. People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones."
pipe dreamA hope that will never come true. "A house by the sea is a pipe dream on my pay."
pull the rug out from underTo take away support suddenly. "The sponsor pulled the rug out from under the festival."
pull the wool over someone's eyesTo deceive someone. "You can't pull the wool over her eyes."
pull yourself up by your bootstrapsTo improve your position by your own effort. Origin: 1830s US; at first an impossible feat.
push someone's buttonsTo do the things that annoy someone. "My little brother knows how to push my buttons."
red-letter dayA specially happy or important day. "Graduation was a red-letter day for the family."
reinvent the wheelTo waste effort making what already exists. "Use the template, no need to reinvent the wheel."
the rest is historyEveryone knows what happened next. "They met at a bus stop, and the rest is history."
rock the boatTo upset a stable situation. "Things are calm, so don't rock the boat."
roll out the red carpetTo give a guest a grand welcome. "The town rolled out the red carpet for the team."
roll up your sleevesTo get ready for hard work. "Let's roll up our sleeves and clear the garage."
Rome wasn't built in a dayGreat things take time. "Keep at it. Rome wasn't built in a day." Origin: probably a Middle French proverb.
seize the dayMake the most of today. "The sun is out. Seize the day." Origin: Latin carpe diem, from a poem by Horace.
slow and steady wins the raceSteady effort beats a fast, careless start. Origin: Aesop's fable The Tortoise and the Hare.
the squeaky wheel gets the greaseWhoever complains loudest gets attention. "I asked three times. The squeaky wheel gets the grease."
sweep under the rugTo hide a problem instead of dealing with it. "You can't sweep the complaints under the rug."
taken abackSurprised and a little shocked. "I was taken aback by the price."
that ship has sailedThat chance is gone. "I wanted the front seats, but that ship has sailed."
think outside the boxTo think in a new and creative way. "We had no budget, so we had to think outside the box."
third time's the charmA third attempt is likely to succeed. "I failed twice, but third time's the charm."
through the roofRising to a very high level. "Ticket prices have gone through the roof."
throw down the gauntletTo issue a challenge. "The rival school threw down the gauntlet." Origin: a late medieval challenge custom.
throw someone under the busTo blame someone else to protect yourself. "He threw his partner under the bus."
throw the baby out with the bathwaterTo lose something good while getting rid of something bad. Origin: a German proverb recorded in 1512.
tie the knotTo get married. "They tie the knot in June."
time fliesTime passes very quickly. "Time flies when the work is fun." Origin: Latin tempus fugit.
turn the tablesTo reverse a situation to your advantage. "In the second half we turned the tables."
wear many hatsTo have many different roles. "In a small firm everyone wears many hats."
wet blanketSomeone who spoils other people's fun. "Don't be a wet blanket." Origin: a wet blanket smothers a fire.
whatever floats your boatDo what makes you happy. "Pineapple on pizza? Whatever floats your boat."
when one door closes, another opensA lost chance leads to a new one. "That job fell through. When one door closes, another opens."
window of opportunityA short time when something can be done. Origin: popularized by the US government, 1970s.
with flying colorsWith great success. "She passed the test with flying colors." Origin: ships coming home with flags flying.
the writing on the wallClear signs that something bad is coming. Origin: the Bible, Daniel 5.
you could hear a pin dropIt was completely silent. "When she walked in, you could hear a pin drop."
How this list was compiled: Phrases chosen, explained and given an example sentence for this site. All 600 were checked by script on 2026-09-18 against English Wiktionary through its API (https://en.wiktionary.org/w/api.php): every one has an English entry there, and 497 of them are filed in its English idioms, proverbs or similes categories (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Category:English_idioms); the rest are entered as ordinary English phrases, nouns or verbs with a figurative sense. Phrases with no Wiktionary entry were left out. Each meaning, each example sentence and each origin note is our own wording. The 174 origin notes state facts found in the Etymology section of the phrase's Wiktionary entry, or of the longer saying it shortens, read on 2026-09-18; they quote no Wiktionary sentence. Where Wiktionary hedges, the note hedges. Apart from three documented coinages (glass ceiling, couch potato and back to the drawing board), a note dates a phrase as "in print by", "found in" or "used by" and does not claim a first use, because an older example can always turn up. A phrase whose origin Wiktionary marks unknown, uncertain or missing carries no note. On 2026-09-19 four notes were corrected after a fresh fetch of https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/nose_to_the_grindstone, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/in_a_pickle with https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/in-a-pickle.html, and https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/the_proof_is_in_the_pudding; the note on bad blood was removed because its only source was one uncited line. Notes that claimed a first use were reworded. The descriptions of an idiom, a proverb and a simile in the page text were checked on 2026-09-18 against https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiom, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proverb and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simile. The French être du gâteau beside piece of cake, the Nelson remark on turn a blind eye, and the unknown origins of raining cats and dogs and break a leg come from those phrases' Wiktionary entries, read 2026-09-18. The seven theme chips are our own sorting by the picture each phrase paints. Second dated pass, 2026-09-19: the site's two content reviewers read all 600 lines for safety and sense and compared the origin notes with the saved Wiktionary text, and the words family fixer applied their corrections and re-read every origin note. Licence: own work