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