Sports
throw in the towel
After losing his queen, the chess player threw in the towel ...
To give up.
To be bull headed
Stop being so bull-headed and come to the cinema with us.
used to describe a person who is stubborn
Piece of cake.
That was a piece of cake!
Something is easy.
A drop in the ocean
Thirty thousand dollars is a drop in the ocean compared to the millions of dollars spend on this film.
a small amount of what is needed
My lips are sealed.
I can be trusted to keep your secret.
learn the ropes
The first week on the job you will just be learning the ropes.
understand new things
All bark and no bite
Fred talks tough, but he is all bark and no bit.
you behave aggressively towards other people but you are not willing to physically hurt them.
To go bananas.
They went bananas at the pep assembly.
To be excited about something.
Like a fish out of water
I went to an office party last night and really felt like a fish out of water.
feeling of being uncomfortable in an unfamiliar situation
Hit the nail on the head
She hit the nail on the head when she said the low pay raise was affecting employee morale.
She pinpointed the exact problem
make the cut
I didn't get a second interview, so I'm pretty sure I won't make the cut.
be chosen to be part of a team
Letting the cat out of the bag
John's friend let the cat out of the bag and told everyone about their engagement.
to reveal a secret by mistake
Bring home the bacon.
Go to work so you can bring home the bacon!
To make needed money.
Rain or shine
Come rain or shine, we will have the wedding this weekend.
“come rain or shine” means that it will happen regardless of the circumstances.
Heard it through the grapevine
He heard it through the grapevine that the house had been sold.
He heard a rumor that the house had been sold.
across the board
Ten percent raises were given across the board.
equal for everyone
let sleeping dogs lie
Hard nut to crack.
That guy won't tell me what he likes, he's a hard nut to crack.
Describes someone who doesn't talk much.
‘Social butterfly’
Social butterflies have no problem making friends in a new group and can adapt to different people.
Cost an arm and a leg
Our old car cost an arm and a leg to get repaired.
It was extremely expensive to repair our old car.
Par for the course
Waiting in line is par for the course at Christmas time.
an expected circumstance
Flogging a dead horse
You're flogging a dead horse at this point!
A particular effort is futile, being a waste of time without a positive outcome.
Like two peas in a pod.
The twins are like two peas in a pod.
To be alike or similar. To have the same taste.
‘Chasing rainbows’
That person is chasing rainbows if they think they'll win the best costume with that outfit.
Someone who “chases rainbows” is trying to achieve something seemingly impossible.
To feel under the weather
Louis didn't go to work as he was feeling under the weather.
To feel sick