Idioms

sweat blood

To work extremely hard or struggle intensely to achieve something; to put in enormous effort.

sweat bullets

To feel extreme anxiety or nervousness, especially under pressure, as if sweating heavily.

sweep under the rug

To hide, ignore, or avoid dealing with a problem or wrongdoing instead of addressing it openly.

take a back seat

To become less important or active; to let someone/something else be the priority.

take a rain check

Politely decline an invitation or offer now, but ask to do it at a later time.

take it with a grain of salt

Don’t accept something as completely true; be skeptical and treat it as possibly exaggerated or unreliable.

take the bull by the horns

To confront a difficult, risky, or unpleasant situation directly and decisively instead of avoiding it.

take the cake

To be the most remarkable or extreme example (often the worst or most annoying), as if “winning” the top spot.

take the plunge

To make a bold decision and commit to doing something, especially after hesitation or uncertainty.

take the wind out of someone’s sails

To weaken someone’s confidence or plans by removing their advantage, enthusiasm, or momentum.

take the wind out of your sails

To reduce someone’s confidence, momentum, or enthusiasm by weakening their advantage or spoiling their plan.

take with a pinch of salt

Treat a claim with skepticism; don’t accept it as completely true.

talk a blue streak

To talk very fast and continuously, often for a long time.

talk of the town

The person or thing everyone is talking about; a very popular or widely discussed topic.

talk shop

To discuss work-related or professional matters, especially in social or non-work settings.

talk the talk

To speak confidently or convincingly about doing something, especially suggesting you may not actually do it unless you also take real action.

taste of your own medicine

To be treated the same unpleasant way you have treated others; to suffer consequences similar to what you caused.

the ball is in your court

It is your turn to act or decide; responsibility has shifted to you to make the next move.

the best of both worlds

A situation where you get the advantages of two different options at the same time, without most of the drawbacks.

the bigger they are, the harder they fall

More powerful or important people/things often suffer a more severe downfall when they fail.

the blind leading the blind

An incompetent or uninformed person guiding others who are equally unable—so everyone is likely to go wrong.

the calm before the storm

A quiet, peaceful period that happens just before trouble, conflict, or intense activity begins.

the cat’s whiskers

Someone or something regarded as outstanding, admirable, or the very best.

the coast is clear

There is no danger, opposition, or risk of being caught now; it’s safe to proceed.

the cream of the crop

The very best people or things in a particular group; the top-quality selection.

the early bird catches the worm

People who act early or start first gain an advantage or succeed more easily than those who wait.

the elephant in the room

An obvious problem or sensitive issue everyone notices but no one wants to talk about.

the grass is always greener

Other people’s situations seem better than your own, even if that isn’t really true.

the last laugh

Final triumph or satisfaction after others have doubted or mocked you; ultimately being the winner.

the last minute

The very latest possible time, just before a deadline or event; leaving something until almost too late.

the last straw

The final small problem or insult that makes someone lose patience or decide they’ve had enough.

the lesser of two evils

The less harmful or unpleasant of two bad choices; the option that does the least damage.

the more the merrier

Having more people involved makes an activity more enjoyable; everyone is welcome to join.

the other side of the coin

the opposite or less obvious aspect of a situation; a contrasting viewpoint that also needs consideration

the plot thickens

A situation becomes more complicated, mysterious, or intriguing as new developments appear.

the pot calling the kettle black

Accusing someone of a fault that you also have; criticizing another for the same flaw you’re guilty of (hypocrisy).

the tip of the iceberg

A small, visible part of a much larger, hidden problem or situation; what you see is only a fraction of what exists.

the whole nine yards

Everything; the full extent or complete package, with nothing left out.

the writing on the wall

A clear sign that something bad or unwanted is going to happen; an inevitable outcome you can already foresee.

there are plenty of fish in the sea

There are many other potential romantic partners available, so you shouldn’t be too upset about one rejection or breakup.

there’s no place like home

Home is the most comfortable, safe, and satisfying place; nothing else compares.

thick as thieves

Very close friends who spend a lot of time together and often share secrets.

third time’s the charm

After two failures, the third attempt is likely to succeed.

through thick and thin

To stay loyal and continue supporting someone or persisting in an effort during both good times and bad times.

throw caution to the wind

To stop being careful and take a risk; act boldly without worrying about consequences.

throw in the towel

To give up or admit defeat; to stop trying because you believe you can’t succeed.

throw someone under the bus

To sacrifice or betray someone to protect yourself or gain advantage, especially by blaming them publicly.

throw the book at

To punish or charge someone as severely as possible, using the maximum penalties or legal charges available.

throw under the bus

To betray, blame, or sacrifice someone to protect yourself or gain advantage, often publicly.

thumbs up

A sign or expression of approval, agreement, or that something is good or acceptable.