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A situation is a tempest in a teacup/teapot.
A situation where people get very angry or worried about something that is not important: I don't get why my Rachel always makes every problem a tempest in a teacup.
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A situation is dog eat dog.
- Ruthless acquisition or competition: With shrinking markets, it's dog eat dog for every company in this field.
- If a situation is dog eat dog, people will do anything to be successful, even if what they do harms other people: That problem for an extra point became dog eat dog. I even got this scar!
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A hint of something
- A small amount of something: That restaurant served me just a hint of food. Not recommended at all!
- A small piece of practical information or advice: Nobody noticed that the reporter hid a hint of irony in his inform.
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From Adam's off ox
- An unrecognizable person or thing: But I haven't met your fiancé from Adam's off ox, yet!.
- Since horses and other beasts of transportation and burden are handled from the left side, the left side is referred to as their “near side”and the right side their “off ” side. Not to be able to distinguish between someone and the farther-away animal of the first man on Earth is indeed not to know very much at all about a person
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To be home and dry.
-Mainly British
-Australian: be home and hosed.
To have completed something successfully: Although I had to work hard for 3 weeks, I finally managed to pass all my subjects and be home and dry.
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The day of reckoning
- The time when an unpleasant situation has to be dealt with, or the time when you are punished or criticized for the things you have done wrong: It's high time to stop wandering about and face the day of reckoning with your mom.
- In the Bible, the day of reckoning is the day at the end of the world when God will judge everyone.
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To give somebody/something a new lease of life
-British and Australian-
-American: a new lease on life.
- To make somebody happy or healthy and give new energy after a period of illness or sadness: After 2 weeks in bed, school gave me a new lease of life.
- To improve something that was old or old-fashioned so that it works better or looks better: When I was about to dump the old atari, my boyfriend bought the cable we were missing and gave it a new lease of life.
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A monkey on somebody's back.
-American & Australian
- A serious problem that won't go away: I think my ex is a monkey on my back. He just won't leave me alone!.
- Also used in the form get the monkey off your back (to end a problem): You won't get that monkey off your back, unless you start studying.
- Based on an earlier meaning of a monkey on your back (a habit of using an illegal drug).
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The noun of a lifetime!
Describe something that was very special: Your wedding was the party of a lifetime! We didn't wanted it to end :(
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Jury is still out (on someone).
-Figurative
A decision has not been reached on someone or something: The jury is still out on Paula and Chris. We don't know who will get the fellowship.
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Someone/something is a hostage to fortune.
-Formal
The subject could be harmed by things that happen in the future. Don't go to Irak, you could become a hostage to fortune.
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To keep something/somebody at bay.
To control something and prevent it from causing you problems. She fears Albert would harm her, so she keeps him at bay.
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A blast from the past
Something that suddenly and strongly makes you remember a previous time in your life: Watching those photos was a real blast from the past.
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That's a new one on me!
Said when someone has just told you a surprising fact that you did not know before: The "force" really exists? That's a new one on me!
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To put a lid on something.
- To stop something from increasing. The teacher had to put a lid on the bad grades that Amy was having.
- Sometimes used in the form put a lid on it (stop complaining): Just put a lid on it a do something about it!
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From the word go
Since the very beginning. I knew your project would succeed from the word go.
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What are you driving at?
-Figurative
What are you implying? What do you mean?: An agreement for the best? What are you driving at?
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Out of the blue
From an unexpected or unforeseen source: The fire came out of the blue.
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A monkey's wedding
- A combination of sunshine and light rain: It's a monkey's wedding outside!
- A caotic situation (Maine): The grad. party became a monkey's wedding. A complete disaster!
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To be dead set.
Fixed in a purpose: I'm dead set on studying abroad!
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Up the creek (without a paddle).
-Modern
-Also: up shit creek.
In an awkward position with no easy way out: The teacher caught him cheating. Now he's up the creek.
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Something is on the cards.
- Very likely to happen: Getting the job at google is on the cards for me! I am sure.
- Based on the use of tarot cards that are believed to be able to show what will happen in the future.
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Someone's timely intervention.
When someone intervenes at right time: The house didn't burn down thanks to the firemen's timely intervention.
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In vain
Without success: We did the homework in vain because the teacher didn't come.
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Something is down the drain.
-British: down the tubes.
-Modern.
- On the way to being lost or wasted; disappearing: My boss fired me. That's 5 years of hard work down the drain.
- Alludes to water going down a drain and being carried off.
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Something is top drawer.
- Of the highest quality, importance, or rank: Apple products are claimed to be top drawer.
- Alludes to the uppermost drawer in a bureau or chest, where the most valuable objects are usually kept.
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Proficiency in an area of study.
Excellence in some area: My sister has proficiency in arts.
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Spiffed up.
-Modern
Dressed up, groomed, and polished up nicely; clean and tidy: It's a formal! You need to get spiffed up!
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A crybaby.
A person who cries or complains frequently with little cause: Alice is a crybaby. She complains about everything!
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Something gets your goat.
-Informal
-Australian: gets on your goat.
Something that annoys you: When my sisters start screaming, they really get my goat!
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To gaslight someone
To manipulate very lightly: It is said that psychologists can't gaslight someone. It's unethical.
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To perk someone/something up
- To make someone more cheery or refreshed: I feel sad. Ice cream would really perk me up!.
- To refresh or brighten something; to make something more lively: Maybe a pink couch would perk the room up!.
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To line up
To arrange some people or things in a line: You have to line up there to pay with cash.
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To snug down someplace.
To become comfortable and warm in a place: I snugged down at the couch and read a book during the storm.
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To pounce on someone.
- To jump, leap, or bound onto something or someone: The lion pounces a zebra.
- To criticise or attack someone verbally: And then, Miguel pounced on Enrique because he was rude at him.
- To take advantage of something enthusiastically, as an opportunity; jump at something: I pounced on the chance of winning an xbox for my project.
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