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