to tell someone some useful or interesting information about someone or something
tell (someone) a thing or two
money that you earn very easily without much work or effort
money for old rope
at the most modern and advanced point in the development of something
at the leading edge
for an extremely small amount of time
for a split second
used for saying that there are many advantages in doing something
there´s a lot to be said for (something)
to be something that provides your main income
be your bread and butter
to stop trying to do something because you lack determination or because you think you can´t win
throw in the towel
not having much money, poor
hard up
someone or something that you are pleased to see
a sight for sore eyes
someone who likes to do the same thing at the same time every day
a creature of habit
to discover or understand exactly why a situation is the way it is
put your finger on (something)
not well controlled
out of hand
without any limit on what you are allowed to do
no holds barred
to do something for a long time without success, always returning to the same problem that you cannot solve
go round in circles
informal conversation about trivial things
small talk
to make someone feel suddenly very frightened or worried
make (someone´s) blood run cold
to waste time and effort trying to do something that someone else has already done well
to reinvent the wheel
to look completely different to someone or something
bear no resemblance to
to be in a difficult situation
in a tight spot
used for saying that a situation is still difficult, although it has improved
not be out of the woods yet
to be very quiet and shy
not say boo to a goose
to tell someone very rudely that you are not interested in them or what they are saying
tell (someone) where to get off
to accept that someone else does not have the same opinion as you and agree not to argue about it
agree to differ
to find new ways of doing things, especially of solving problems
think outside the box
a rare or valuable object that collectors want to own
collector´s item
to have a lot of money (usually in a positive sense)
be rolling in it
an exciting end to part of a book or TV programme which makes you excited for the next part
cliff-hanger
used for referring to a situation in which you become so interested in something that you cannot stop trying to find out about it or doing it
down the rabbit hole
to agree to do something that someone wants, if they do something you want
meet (someone) half way
likely to get the result that you are trying to achieve
on target
to understand something completely incorrectly
get the wrong end of the stick
to manage to live or keep a business running even though you are not earning much money
keep your head above water
to learn how to do something, especially a job
learn the ropes
to definitely decide the details of something
nail down the finer points
to have a lot of money (often used in a negative sense)
be made of money (I´m not made of money)
something that sounds familiar although you cannot remember the exact details
ring a bell
to find something that all people can agree about, especially where there is disagreement
find common ground
used for saying that someone or something is more interesting, impressive, complicated etc. than they seem to be
there´s more to (someone/something) than meets the eye
to cause problems by making suggestions or criticisms
make waves
to say that you will definitely not allow or accept something
draw the line at (something)
used for saying that someone is criticizing another person for a fault that they also have
the pot calling the kettle black
minor problems that a new company, project, product etc. may have in the beginning
teething problems
when 2 people get confused because they think that each other is talking about something else
get your wires crossed
to be very popular
go down a storm
a situation in which the rules aren´t clear or where there is no right or wrong answer
grey area
to be very enthusiastic about a particular activity and spend all the time you can doing it or talking about it
live and breathe (something)
to do something correctly, follow the rules in a strict way
(do something) by the book
to stop being shy and begin to confidently show your real character and feelings
come out of your shell
to have a very negative attitude, particularly somebody who is offended or angers easily and irrationally
have a chip on your shoulder
used for saying that someone should do something to show they mean what they say
put your money where your mouth is
used for saying you already know about something unpleasant that someone has just described because you have experienced it yourself
tell me about it
a weak feature of someone or something
Achilles heel
used for saying that someone does not listen or react to youwhen you talk to them
like talking to a brick wall
to be caught in the act of doing something wrong
be caught red-handed
used for saying that when you love someone, it is difficult to see their faults
love is blind
something that is not relevant that makes you confused or takes your attention away from what you should be concentrating on
red herring
to have an advantage over other people in the same situation
have a head start
a situation in which no further progress is possible
dead end
to have a very strong and long-lasting effect
leave your mark
no longer believed to be guilty of something bad or illegal
in the clear
someone or something that is new, interesting and exciting
a breath of fresh air
to change the rules part way through something
move the goalposts
to suddenly notice something, particularly something interesting or attractive
catch (someone´s) eye
an attempt or guess that it is not likely to be successful but is worth trying
a long shot
to spend a long time getting to the main point (usually used in a negative sense)
beat around the bush (don´t beat around the bush)
to have persistent success or good luck
be on a roll
to surprise someone by being very beautiful, impressive, unexpected etc (often used in the passive)
bowl over (be bowled over)
someone who is determined to succeed and works hard to achieve this
go-getter
used for emphasizing that something is not available or possible, or that you won´t do it
not for love nor money
doing or thinking the right things
on the right track
to tell someone something that was intended to be secret
let the cat out of the bag
an attempt to find something that does not exist or that you are very unlikely to discover
wild goose chase
to change a situation completely or do something in a completely new way
break the mould
to give someone control or an advantage
give someone the upper hand
something that happens by chance and that helps you achieve something
stroke of luck
to immediately establish a bad relationship with someone
get off on the wrong foot
used for saying in a slightly angry way that you already know about something that a person is talking to you about, often because it is obvious
tell me something I don´t know
to talk about your work, especially with colleagues on a social occasion or in a way that is boring for other people
talk shop
an embarrassing secret about your past that you don´t want anyone to know
skeleton in your cupboard
someone who spoils other people´s fun by being negative and complaining
wet blanket
not calculated exactly, but within a similar general range
in the same ballpark
a set of problems that it is impossible to escape from
catch 22 situation
from the beginning again, not using all the work that you have done before
from scratch
to believe that something dishonest, illegal or wrong has happened
smell a rat
to make someone feel extremely frightened
to scare the wits out of (someone)
completely dead or not working
as dead as a doornail
something that people cannot agree on and that stops them from continuing with a discussion
sticking point
to accept something unpleasant in a brave way without complaining
take (something) on the chin
someone who enjoys being with other people and makes friends easily
people person
to be doing something that will not get the result you want
be barking up the wrong tree
to be in a position where you can only make a choice between 2 bad options
be stuck between a rock and a hard place
to be outside of a group that has information or makes decisions about something
be out of the loop
to talk to someone for a long time, often in a loud or boring way
talk (someone´s) ear off
work done by a person who is not permanently employed by a particular company but who sells their services to more than one company
freelance
used for saying that you didn´t know about something, especially when you are annoyed about this
it´s news to me
someone who is unkind or unpleasant
nasty piece of work
used for telling someone that you don´t believe what they have just said
a likely story
to give the real facts about something, even if they are unpleasant
tell it like it is
to discuss a problem in order for all parties to get past it
clear the air
behaving in a way that other people do not approve of
out of line
being planned or prepared in order to happen or be available soon
in the pipeline
used for saying what you think is true when you think that there may be facts that you or others do not know
as far as anyone can tell
used for saying that you will know in the future whether something is true or right
time will tell
the most basic fact or issue in a situation
the bottom line
to start again because your first idea was unsuccessful
go back to the drawing board
to talk confidently about something in a way that makes people think you are good at it or know a lot about it, without providing evidence that is the case
talk the talk
to be short of money
feel the pinch
something that can be developed or changed in many different ways
a blank canvas
to communicate with someone that you have not seen for some time in order to find out how they are, what is happening etc. (often used in a work context)
touch base with (someone)
to do or say something too soon, before you know that it is suitable or correct
jump the gun
used for saying that the words you have chosen are not as extreme as they could have been
to put it mildly
to cause problems by changing a situation that is considered satisfactory
rock the boat
to be always talking about yourself or your achievements in a way that annoys other people
be full of yourself
a difficulty that causes mistakes or prevents progress
stumbling block
to understand the basic meaning that someone is trying to say
catch (someone´s) drift
to talk to someone about something that has been worrying you, so that you feel better about it
get something off your chest
used when you want to make sure that someone understands your comments correctly, especially when you are criticising
don´t get me wrong
to make someone feel nervous or frightened
give someone the creeps
to tell someone something, often something that should be kept secret
spill the beans
a thing that slowly develops into something interesting or powerful
a slow burner
to keep something secret
keep (something) under wraps
to become very good at doing something
get something down to a fine art
used for emphasizing that you can go anywhere or do anything that you want to
the world is (someone´s) oyster
used when you are telling someone something that you don´t want them to pass on
between you and me
to make you feel angry
make your blood boil
without doubt
hands down
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