Routine
Back in the saddle
Back in the daily routine
Example: After being sick for a week, Joe is back in the saddle at the office.
A walk in the park
Something simple or easy
Example: That test was a walk in the park for Jessica because she studied hard the night before.
A dime a dozen
Inexpensive, cheap
Example: Movies that deal with crime are very numerous. They are a dime a dozen.
Know-it-all
A person who acts as if they know all about everything, someone thinks no one can tell him anything new
Example: After John became class president, he wouldn't take suggestions from anyone. He became a huge know-it-all.
Early Bird
An early riser from bed
Example: Jane is a real early bird, she gets up at 5am.
*The early bird catches the worm
Actions speak louder than words
What you do shows your character better and is more important than what you say
Example: John promised to help me, but he didn't. I guess his actions speak louder than his words.
let grass grow under one's feet
To waste time, be slow
Example: Grandpa spends so much time sitting and reading that we accuse him of letting the grass grow under his feet.
Mary is so busy with work and her kids that she never lets grass grow under her feet.
Money doesn't grow on trees
Money isn't easy to acquire
Example: Kristin wanted a new car for her 16th birthday. Her mother told her that money doesn't grow on trees.
Life of the party
A person who makes things enjoyable or interesting
Example: Sarah is the life of the party in study hall. She always makes it fun.
Eager Beaver
A person who is always eager to work or do anything extra
Example: Jack likes his teacher and works hard in class, his classmates call him an eager beaver.
On a roll
Having a consistent run of success
Example: I am on a roll! I got a promotion and won the lottery.
We were on a roll working on our project until the fire alarm went off.
Ring a bell
Sound familiar
Example: His name rings a bell for me. I think we went to school together.
A pretty penny
Something very expensive
Example: His new car cost him a pretty penny.
Out of character
Not in a way that a person usually behaves or is expected to behave
Example: Susan is a nice and sweet girl. When she yelled at her classmate today it was very out of character.
Jailbird
A convict, someone who is in jail or has just gotten out of jail
Example: Because Harry was a jailbird, it was hard for him to find a job.
Hit the hay
To go to bed
Example: Its 10pm, I better hit the hay.
*Hit the sack has the same meaning
abandon ship
To give up on something.
Example: The car wouldn't start, so we abandoned ship and starting walking.
Two cents worth
Something you want to say; an opinion
Example: If we want your two cents, we will ask for it.
Speak the same language
To have similar feelings, thoughts and likes
Example: We love the same movies and listen to the same music. Its like we both speak the same language.
Snug as a bug in a rug
Very comfortable, cozy
Example: "Are you warm enough?" Asked the boy's mother. "Yeah," he replied " I am as snug as a bug in a rug."
I did not want to get out of bed this morning because I was as snug as a bug in a rug.
To kill two birds with one stone
To succeed in doing two things by only one action, get two results from one effort
Example: She reads her homework while walking on the treadmill. She kills two birds with one stone by getting her work done while exercising.
Skeleton in the closet
A shameful secret someone has kept secret
Example: The skeleton in the closest of our family was Uncle Will. He drank way too much.
He has been divorced twice and has yet to tell his new girlfriend. His divorces are his skeleton in the closet.
Pinch pennies
Be very saving or thrifty
Example: When Tom and Anne wanted to buy a new house, they had to pinch pennies.
*penny-pincher = someone who is stingy *penny-pinching= when you are saving money
Jet-setter
A trendy person who travels a lot, especially by airplane
Example: Tom has visited so many cities that he is a such a jet-setter.
Weasel out of something
To avoid dealing with some issue, not keep an obligation
Example: I am so tired I think I am going to weasel my way out of going to another meeting with my boss.