A flash in the pan
Something that starts well but fails quickly
A chef's technique for igniting alcohol in a dish
A sudden explosion
A small but bright light
A feather in one’s cap
A symbol of rank in 16th-century European duels
A hat decoration
A sign of weakness
An achievement to be proud of
A fly on the wall
A hidden spy camera
An insect stuck to a window
A medieval punishment for nosy eavesdroppers
Someone who watches without being noticed
A wolf in sheep’s clothing
A very confused person
Someone who pretends to be good but is bad
A leader in disguise
A reference to an ancient Norse folktale about Loki
Barking up the wrong tree
Chasing animals up trees
Talking too loudly
An old hunting term for dogs misidentifying prey
Pursuing the wrong course of action
Dead in the water
A fish that has stopped swimming
A floating corpse
No longer able to succeed
A sailing term for ships stuck without wind
Down to the wire
A situation decided at the last moment
A close horse race
A dangerous electrical job
A term from 19th-century telegraph messages arriving late
In a pickle
Holding too many pickles
In a difficult situation
Feeling sour
A reference to sailors preserving food in brine for long voyages
Like riding a bicycle
A reference to early circus performers balancing on tightropes
A skill that, once learned, is never forgotten
Cycling effortlessly
Moving very quickly
On tenterhooks
Hanging on hooks
Sitting uncomfortably
In suspense or anxiety
A term from fabric-making, where cloth was stretched tightly to dry
Out of the woods
A reference to medieval travelers who feared robbers in forests
No longer in trouble
Unable to see trees
Lost in the forest
Skating on thin ice
A phrase from Dutch winters when frozen canals became unstable
Moving very carefully
Taking a risky action
Learning to ice skate
The apple of one’s eye
A sign of intelligence
Someone cherished above all
A favorite fruit
An old belief that the pupil of the eye was a solid apple-like object
Thrown in at the deep end
Falling into a pool
Given a difficult task with no help
A phrase from swimming lessons where beginners were tested by being thrown into deep water
Being trapped underwater
Burning the candle at both ends
A wasteful way to light a room
A phrase from the 17th century referring to people who used expensive candles excessively
Holding something dangerously
Overworking yourself
