1. Bite off more than you can chew.

Trying to do something that is too difficult or time consuming to finish.

"I'm glad you want to prepare the report by yourself. Just be sure that you don't bite off more than
you can chew."

2. Early bird
A person who is early, or gets up early.
"Dave was in class 30 minutes before anyone else. What an early bird."

3. Beggars can't be choosers

People cannot complain about something they get for free.
"I don't like the color of the sweater she gave me, but beggars can't be choosers."

4. By the book
Doing something according to rules.
"He's a good cop. He does everything by the book."

5. The best thing since sliced bread

A good invention or innovation.
"I love this paper folding machine. It's the best thing since sliced bread."

6. Get to the bottom of

Learn about and understand fully.
"We are not sure what happened, but we intend to get to the bottom of this."

7. Put on the back burner

Leave it for later.
"I don't think we'll have time to complete it this year. Let's put it on the back burner."

8. Have your cake and eat it too

Enjoy something without paying for it.
"He expected to pass without studying. Unfortunately, you cannot have your cake and eat it, too."

9. A close call
Something (usually bad) almost happening.
"That car almost hit us. That was a close call."
10. Enough is enough
Used when the speaker is saying "this really needs to stop."
"I have listened to his complaints for years but enough is enough."

11. Don't count your chickens before they have hatched

Don't make plans for something that might not happen.
"Yes, I think we will probably get a raise in pay this year. Remember, though, don't count your
chickens before your eggs have hatched."

12. With flying colors

With ease and grace; easily.
"John passed the exam with flying colors."

13. Scrape by
Have just enough but not more.
"Our budget is not satisfactory but we will find a way to scrape by."

14. A couch potato

A lazy person.
"Luis just watches tv all day. He really is a couch potato."
15. Take its course
A situation develops naturally.
"There is nothing we can do to relieve the effects of her disease. We can only wait and let the
illness take its course."
16. In the dark
Ignorant of something, or unaware.
"They didn't tell me anything. I felt like they had left me in the dark."
17. Back to the drawing board
Used when you need to rethink an idea, usually when it doesn't work and you need to start over.
"When my supervisor told me that our idea would not work, we had to go back to the drawing
board to come up with something else."

18. Let the cat out of the bag

To reveal a secret, often without intending to do so.
"The surprise birthday party was cancelled because someone let the cat out of the bag about it."

19. Make a mountain out of a molehill

Used when someone behaves as if a small, insignificant problem is actually a big problem.
"The test wasnt difficult, it was easy. Dont make a mountain out of a molehill."

20. no dice
Used when you want to say "no, certainly not" to a proposed question or action.
"I like living in this area. When my children wanted to move, I said no dice."

21. on shaky ground

Used when a situation or a person is in uncertain or unstable circumstances.
"The buyers arent sure if they really want to buy the car. I think the sale is on shaky ground."

22. play with fire

To perform an action that will invite danger or trouble (the implication is 'you will get burned').
"You are playing with fire if you drive with your car on empty."

23. Pull someones leg

Used when you believe someone is playing you false, tricking you, esp. in a teasing manner.
"If you think I believe that you won the lottery, your pulling my leg."
24. A penny for your thoughts
Usually interrogative. Another way of asking 'what are you thinking?'
"You've been very quiet today. A penny for your thoughts?"
25. Actions speak louder than words
A common saying. It means that you can, or should, judge people by what they do instead of what
they say.
"John says he's my friend, but he never comes to my parties. I suppose actions speak louder than
words"
26. Add insult to injury
To further a loss with mockery or indignity; to worsen an unfavorable situation.
"Sharon added insult to injury when she fired Phil, then scolded him in front of the other
employees."
27. An arm and a leg

Used to say that something is very expensive or costly, often excessively so.
"Are you sure you want to buy that car? That thing costs an arm and a leg?"
28. Barking up the wrong tree
Used when someone is looking in the wrong place for something, when their actions won't result
the way they intended.
"Phil doesn't know this, but he's barking up the wrong tree by going after this girl. She's
married."
29. Beat(ing) around the bush
Avoiding the main topic. Not speaking directly about the issue so as to waste time.
"Let us stop beating around the bush. Why did you call me here?"
30. Best of both worlds
Used to imply that something or someone has the all the best qualities of two other things.
"Maurice is intelligent, but too bookish. His wife Laura is outgoing, but not very smart. Their
daughter Lydia, though, is the best of both worlds: she's both smart and outgoing."

31. Blessing in disguise

Used to describe something good that isn't recognized as such at first.
"This man, who I didn't like at first, was actually a blessing in disguise."

32. Can't (or don't) judge a book by its cover

A common saying. Used to say that you shouldn't judge something/someone only on their
appearance.
"You can't say you don't like her if you haven't spoken yet. Don't judge a book by its cover.

33. Curiosity killed the cat

Used to say that being to inquisitive may lead you to an unpleasant situation.
"You probably don't want to know, so stop asking. Remember, curiosity killed the cat"

34. Cut corners

When something is done in the interest of saving money, usually with a bad result.
"The company should really stop cutting corners on its insurance. We've been getting a lot of
complaints from employees."

35. (Be/play) Devil's Advocate

To present a counter argument, often taking a position that one does not agree with.

"For the sake of argument, let me be the devil's advocate here..."

36. Every cloud has a silver lining

Optimistic saying. Used to say that every bad thing or moment in life has some good quality
about it (and perhaps that things will soon get better).
"I'm sorry business hasn't been great lately, but don't worry. Every cloud has a silver lining.

37. Hear(d) it through the grapevine

This idiom means 'to hear rumors' about something or someone through a chain of
communication.
Q: "Where did you learn that I'm leaving soon" A: "Oh, I heard it through the grapevine."

38. In the heat of the moment

Often used as an excuse. Used to say that you did something without thought because of
momentary excitement or anger.
"I didn't mean to say that, John. I got carried away in the heat of the moment."

39. Jump on the bandwagon

This means to join a popular trend or activity, perhaps only because it is popular.
"Tim didn't like Taylor Swift before she was popular, but now he loves her. He totally jumped on
the bandwagon."

40. Kill two birds with one stone

This idiom means 'to accomplish two different things with one action.'
"By going to university, you kill two birds with one stone--you get to meet amazing people and
further your education all at once."

41. Last (or final) straw

Often used in anger. Used in situations where someone has committed the last of a series of
wrong actions.
"When John insulted his mother, that was the final straw: that's when the fight started."

42. To make a long story short

To finally come to the point, or purpose, of a conversation. Can also be used when you don't want
to the reveal all of the details of an event.
"To make a long story short, it wasn't a very fun evening."

43. A Picture is worth a thousand words

A common saying. Means that visual depictions are often more powerful than spoken ones.
"It's much easier to learn about machinery by looking at diagrams than reading. You know what
they say: a picture is worth a thousand words."

44. Piece of cake

Used to describe something that is completely easy.
"I'm not worried about the exam. It will be a piece of cake."

45. See eye to eye

If two people see "eye to eye," it means that they agree on something.
"Tom and Mary don't often see eye to eye: they're always arguing about something."

46. On the fence

This is used when a person can't make a decision about something.
"Phil is on the fence about attending the party later."

47. Straight from the horse's mouth

This strange one is used when you hear information from the original, most authoritative source.
"I heard the information from Jill, who was there. So I got it straight from the horse's mouth."