idioms

crack the whip

Meaning make someone work harder by asserting power or authority put a person under pressure to do a job or be obedient harshly push someone …

straight shooter

Meaning someone who speaks the truth speak honestly and straightforwardly an upright or plainly spoken person someone frank and forthright Example Sentences I really like Ken. …

the elephant in the room also, the elephant in the living room

Meaning a difficult, controversial, or obvious problem that no one wants to talk about or mention because …

take it up a notch also, take it down a notch (opposite term)

Meaning apply more effort to achieve a goal try harder increase intensity or excitement The phrase …

red tape

Meaning | Synonyms over excessive or time-consuming rules and bureaucracy that hinder progress adherence to official processes and formalities that prevent action conformity to rigid standards/regulations …

weather the storm, also, ride out the storm

Meaning handle a difficult period of time successfully survive a serious situation without being harmed in any way reach the end …

part and parcel

Meaning something that is a basic or essential element of the whole a necessary part of an experience that cannot be avoided an integral or …

skeleton in the closet (US), skeleton in the cupboard (UK)

Meaning a secret of an embarrassing, guilty or shameful nature that you don’t want to disclose something potentially disreputable …

cold shoulder

Meaning to treat somebody with coldness and contempt to ignore somebody an expression of intentional unfriendliness knowingly behave in an unfriendly way express dismissal or the …

fly off the handle

Meaning To lose one’s temper and get angry for seemingly no reason (does not usually refer to situations that would warrant an emotional response). …

alma mater

Meaning the school, college, or university that one attended or in which one has studied the official anthem of a school, college, or university a metaphorical …

get out of hand

Meaning out of control no longer in control of something or someone difficult to control a situation be chaotic or unmanageable be in an …

no picnic

Meaning used to express that an activity or action is not fun not an easy task to undertake or perform an event or an activity is …

jump to conclusions,also, leap to conclusions

Meaning to predict a situation without having sufficient information to have a premature estimation or judgement hurriedly to make (a foolish) decision …

too close for comfort

Meaning to be very close to something dangerous or unwelcoming dangerously or uncomfortably near to be so near to you that you feel anxious …

bare bones

Meaning most basic and important elements or facts not detailed but only basic or essential facts of something the basic framework and structure of something containing …

the buck stops here

Variants the buck stops with the buck ends with

Meaning The responsibility for a situation or a problem with somebody. The saying “The buck …

pass the buck

Meaning passing blame to another person shift the responsibility for something to someone else appoint someone else to be in charge of something hold someone …

recharge one’s batteries

Meaning take a break or holiday to relax and regain one’s vim and vigour regain your strength and energy by resting and relaxing for a …

in cold blood

Meaning in a cruel way and without pity or other emotion in a deliberately unfeeling manner heartless without remorse unemotionally calculated cold-hearted Example Sentences One …

all hell will let loose

Meaning a situation suddenly becomes noisy and violent, usually with a lot of people arguing or fighting describes and outlines what usually happens …

bury the hatchet

Meaning to stop fighting or arguing or to end old resentments make peace and end a quarrel, settle one’s differences to become friends again refers …

go out on a limb

Meaning do or say something that is different from most other people get into a position where others do not support you take …

close call

Meaning a narrow escape from disaster refers to narrowly avoiding a situation of events that are often dangerous being able to escape something bad and harmful …

burst the bubble, also, the bubble burst

Meaning the sudden end of a very happy or successful period to disapprove of someone’s beliefs about something breaking one’s delusions and …

hit the roof

Meaning experience sudden anger express extreme annoyance lose your temper or become enraged/infuriated. prices increasing sharply Example Sentences Jake’s parents are going to hit the …

call the shots

Meaning to be in charge of what is happening and what should happen take the initiative in deciding how something should be done act as …

by hook or by crook

Meaning by any possible means achieve something by any method available reach your goal by any way necessary, be that good or bad …