Definition
Burn the midnight oil
To work late into the night.
I had to burn the midnight oil to finish the report before the deadline.
Throw in the towel
To give up or quit.
After several failed attempts, he finally threw in the towel and admitted defeat.
In the same boat
In the same difficult situation as others.
We’re all in the same boat here, so let’s try to help each other out.
A leopard can’t change its spots
People can’t change their fundamental nature.
He’s always been unreliable; I don’t think he’s going to change—after all, a leopard can’t change its spots.
The writing on the wall
A sign or warning of something bad that will happen in the future.
The company's financial problems were clear, and the writing was on the wall for everyone to see.
Break the ice
To initiate conversation or make people feel more comfortable.
He told a joke to break the ice at the meeting.
The ball is in your court
It’s your turn to take action or make a decision.
I’ve done all I can; now the ball is in your court.
The tip of the iceberg
A small, visible part of a much larger problem.
This error is just the tip of the iceberg; we need to investigate the whole system.
Make a mountain out of a molehill
To exaggerate a small problem.
She made a mountain out of a molehill when her coffee spilled.
Under the weather
To feel ill or unwell.
I’m feeling a bit under the weather today, so I think I’ll stay home and rest.
A blessing in disguise
Something that seems bad at first but turns out to be good.
Losing that job was a blessing in disguise because it pushed me to start my own business.
Hit the nail on the head
To describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem.
You really hit the nail on the head with your analysis of the company's issues.
Read between the lines
To understand something that is not directly stated.
You have to read between the lines in her email to understand her true feelings.
Put your money where your mouth is
To back up your words with action or money.
If you believe in that charity, put your money where your mouth is and donate.
Take something with a grain of salt
To not take something too seriously or to be skeptical about it.
He tends to exaggerate, so take his story with a grain of salt.
Caught between a rock and a hard place
Facing two difficult choices.
I’m caught between a rock and a hard place—should I take the promotion or stay with my current team?
Bite the bullet
To endure something painful or unpleasant that is unavoidable.
I don’t want to go to the dentist, but I’ll have to bite the bullet and make an appointment.
Put all your eggs in one basket
To rely on one thing for success.
Investing all your money in one stock is risky—you shouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
It’s better to keep what you have than risk losing it by trying for something more.
I know the other job looks tempting, but remember, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
In hot water
In trouble or facing a difficult situation.
She’s in hot water with her boss after missing the deadline for the second time.
On the ball
Being quick to understand or deal with something.
She’s really on the ball—she finished the project a week ahead of schedule.
A stitch in time saves nine
Taking care of a problem early will prevent it from getting worse.
I fixed the leak right away—remember, a stitch in time saves nine.
Jump the gun
To do something too soon, before it’s appropriate.
We jumped the gun by starting the project without all the necessary resources.
Off the beaten track
Unusual, not conventional or commonly done.
We found a really off-the-beaten-track cafe that serves amazing food.
Cost an arm and a leg
To be very expensive.
That designer handbag costs an arm and a leg, but it’s so stylish!