Idioms

Front 1

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

Back 1

It is much safer to be content with things you have at the moment than take risks and try to reach more in the future

Front 2

A blessing in disguise

Back 2

When something bad happens at first we do not see that there are also good points in the situation.

Front 3

A chip on your shoulder

Back 3

To be disappointed with something that occurred in the past.

Hint 3

Justin has a chip on his shoulder because his little brother didn't let him sleep all night.

Front 4

Ad lib

Back 4

To improvise, to extemporize

Hint 4

I felt that the actor forgot his text. Nevertheless he ad libbed very well.

Front 5

Know the ropes

Back 5

Yol yordam bilmek

Hint 5

Don't worry about Sara's taking over that reporter's job-she already knows the ropes.

Front 6

The apple doesnt fall far from the tree

Back 6

Armut dibine düşer (benzemek anne babaya)

Front 7

OPEN BOOK

Back 7

Easy to read (Easy to understand)

Front 8

A dime a dozen

Back 8

Something ordinary and common.

Hint 8

Good singers are a dime dozen here. It's harder to find a skillfull drummer.

Front 9

Down-to-earth

Back 9

sensible; practical; realistic

Hint 9

Their ideas seem to be far more down to earth and sensible.

Front 10

Play it by ear

Back 10

To act according to the circumstances; improvise.

Hint 10

I don't have a set schedule, so we'll have to play it by ear.

Front 11

Drama Queen

Back 11

Who over react. An overly dramatic person.

Hint 11

Mary blows everything out of proportion! She's such a drama queen!

Front 12

A doubting Thomas

Back 12

A person who doesn't believe anything without evidence. A sceptic.

Hint 12

Logan is like doubting Thomas. Unless he sees something with his own eyes he won’t believe you.

Front 13

A drop in the bucket

Back 13

Small amount

Hint 13

What earned William last month was a drop in the bucket. I don’t understand how he’s going to get out of debts.

Front 14

Kick off

Back 14

We use this phrase when we want to initiate or start something, but we could just as easily say let’s get the ball rolling, get a head start, be first out of the gate, play ball or even make a flying start.

Front 15

Plain Sailing

Back 15

This denotes a simple or easy situation, although from my experiences there are very few easy situations in real life. Businessmen and women often use this phrase to describe complex decisions or discussions in which they are hoping for a positive outcome.

Hint 15

Golfer Tiger Woods hit a couple of bad shots early in his round, but it was plain sailing after that and he won the match easily.

Front 16

The Ball Is In Your Court

Back 16

Often used when a decision needs to be reached and the responsibility has passed onto a single person to decide.

Hint 16

They know our position, so the ball's in their court. If they want to pursue the matter, they'll have to make the next move.

Front 17

Call The Shots

Back 17

Usually this signifies who is in charge or making the decisions and where you would go to ask for advice if needed. In cases where different groups are meeting, one might ask the other who is calling the shots in order to discover who they need to impress the most.

Hint 17

It's up to the boss to call the shots.

Front 18

Saved By The Bell

Back 18

A term from boxing which signifies when a lucky or fortunate event occurs which has a positive outcome. It describes encountering an event which may have saved you from misfortune, but was totally unexpected.

Hint 18

My teacher asked me a question I didn’t know the answer to and right before I was prompted to reply with an answer, I was saved by the bell.

Front 19

A Level Playing Field

Back 19

Often denotes when there is an equal amount of opportunity between rivals, this can apply to candidates with similar skills and experiences who have applied for a new job or promotion, or alternatively be between companies hoping to win a big contract. There is a fair chance for everyone to win or succeed.

Hint 19

We’re starting off with a level playing field, so everyone has an equal chance of winning the deal at the end of this project.

Front 20

Blow off Steam

Back 20

blow off steam also let off steamto do or say something that helps you get rid of strong feelings or energy.

Hint 20

I've told her she can call me and talk any time she wants to blow off some steam. After a long car trip, the kids need to run around a bit and let off steam.

Front 21

Poker Face

Back 21

A poker face is an expression on your face that shows none of your feelings.

Hint 21

She managed to keep a poker face.

Front 22

Hold Your Horses

Back 22

Thoroughly think through a situation before you make a decision; to stop or slow down to think more thoroughly about how to move forward.

Hint 22

“Hold your horses! You are moving way too fast. Let’s stop and think carefully about the first steps we should take."

Front 23

Jump The Gun

Back 23

Making a decision or statement too early or quickly before the right time (when you have analysed the situation and planned appropriately what to do or say); to act or say something prematurely.

Hint 23

“Jane's car has a scratch on it and she accused me doing it because I was standing next to the car. She jumped the gun and didn't give me a chance to explain that it wasn't me.”

Front 24

Miss The Mark

Back 24

When you fail to achieve a goal; when your performance in a task/activity does not meet the standard or target.

Hint 24

“He really missed the mark on closing that deal. Hopefully, he will have better luck next time.”

Front 25

Throw in the Towel

Back 25

Quit; give up your pursuit of a goal or project.

Hint 25

“We are never going to make this deadline. I think it's time to throw in the towel.”

Front 26

Stay On Your Toes

Back 26

A warning / suggestion to remain alert, focused, sharp and responsive; to apply yourself to be continuously focused on the task, goals, objectives and situation.

Hint 26

“Stay on your toes when you are around John because I don't trust him.”

Front 27

Hit the nail on the head

Back 27

To precisely and accurately describe a situation or problem. To do something perfectly.

Hint 27

“You totally hit the nail on the head when you said that the company could not continue to operate without downsizing.”

Front 28

Cut to the chase

Back 28

Tell someone exactly what you mean or need; stop giving the background and make the key point or points; don't ramble.

Hint 28

“Stop going around in circles. I don't have a lot of time, so I need you to cut to the chase.”

Front 29

To rock the boat

Back 29

To do something that challenges the current way things are done, or someone’s authority. Often expressed in the negative - i.e. don't do anything that will challenge others and call attention to yourself in a negative way. To keep the peace.

Hint 29

"Don’t rock the boat suggesting too many ideas while you are still new here. Wait till you have built the management’s confidence in you before making suggestions for major change."

Front 30

Playing catch up

Back 30

To be behind in a task or in knowledge of a situation, and to be working hard to be back up-to-date and fully-informed of the current situation.

Hint 30

“I just got back from vacation so I'm playing catch up. At the moment, I'm buried in emails…”

Front 31

Food for thought

Back 31

If you give someone food for thought, you make them think carefully about something.

Hint 31

Lord Fraser's speech offers much food for thought.

Front 32

Cut to the chase

Back 32

Tell someone exactly what you mean or need; stop giving the background and make the key point or points; don't ramble.

Hint 32

Example: “Stop going around in circles. I don't have a lot of time, so I need you to cut to the chase.”

Front 33

To rock the boat

Back 33

To do something that challenges the current way things are done, or someone’s authority. Often expressed in the negative - i.e. don't do anything that will challenge others and call attention to yourself in a negative way. To keep the peace.

Hint 33

Example: “Don’t rock the boat suggesting too many ideas while you are still new here. Wait till you have built the management’s confidence in you before making suggestions for major change.”

Front 34

Playing catch up

Back 34

To be behind in a task or in knowledge of a situation, and to be working hard to be back up-to-date and fully-informed of the current situation.

Hint 34

Example: “I just got back from vacation so I'm playing catch up. At the moment, I'm buried in emails…”

Front 35

Fair wheather friend

Back 35

a person who cannot be relied on in situations of hardship or difficulty.

Hint 35

She's a fair-weather friend.

Front 36

Scratching the surface

Back 36

When you scratch the surface of something in the non-literal sense, you're just beginning to learn about something and only know a few superficial details.

Front 37

Scratching the surface

Back 37

When you scratch the surface of something in the non-literal sense, you're just beginning to learn about something and only know a few superficial details.

Front 38

scratch below the surface

Back 38

you've learned more information about a subject and you have moved beyond a simple understanding of the subject and are delving into the depths of it, to use another idiom

Front 39

keep your head above water

Back 39

to just be able to manage, especially when you have financial difficulties:

Hint 39

The business is in trouble, but we are just about keeping our heads above water.

Front 40

Pack a punch

Back 40

to have a lot of force or a great effect:His speech packed quite a punch.

Hint 40

These cocktails taste quite innocent, but they really pack a punch!