1. A Blessing in disguise – Something good that isn’t recognised at first.
Example- Failing in his exams was a blessing in disguise, for he realized that he was not enjoying his course and decided to try out something else.
2. A chip on your shoulder- being upset for something that happened in the past.
Example- He has a chip on his shoulder for not being invited to the party.
3. A drop in the bucket – a very small part of something big or whole.
Example- The amount being spent on basic research is a drop in the bucket.
4. A dime a dozen – anything that is common and easy to get
Example- Cheap watches like this have flooded the market, you can get them a dime a dozen.
5. I slept like a log- to sleep well
Example- No, I didn’t hear the storm outside-I was so tired that I slept like a log all night.
6. A pie in the sky- an impractical or impossible dream, idea or plan.
Example- You can’t open a business unless you have any money to get started. Otherwise, it is just a pie in-the-sky venture.
7. underwraps- being kept secret or hidden (until same time in future)
Example- Those plans are top secret. The government is keeping all plans under wraps.
8. Black sheep (of the family)-a person who is a failure.
Example- She never went to college; she is the black sheep of the family.
9. Green with envy- jealous. Example- She was green with envy when she saw my new car.
10. once in a blue moon –rarely. Example- We go out once in a blue moon.
11. be/feel under the weather- be/fell unwell or ill. Example- I won’t make it to work today; I am feeling under the weather.
12. Like a broken record-to refer to someone who repeats the same thing again and again. Example- He keeps talking about his new car. He is like a broken record.
13. It takes two to tango- both parties involved in a situation are responsible for it.
Example- The argument with your friend isn’t all your fault. It takes two to tango.
14. Strike a chord– to cause people to approve of, agree with, or feel strongly about something. Example- The president’s speech struck a chord with small business owners.
15. Face the music– to accept the consequences of your actions. Example- Jennifer broke his mother’s favorite vase. She’ll find out eventually, so he should face the music and tell her now.
16. As keen as mustard-very excited and enthusiastic. Example- Children are always as keen as mustard to learn new things around them.
17. Be in Dutch –in trouble. Example- The boy was in Dutch with his friend.
18. between the devil and the deep blue sea- to choose between two undesirable situations. Example- My best friend from college and my best friend from high school are both getting married on the same day in different states and they both want me to be in their wedding.
19 a ballpark figure- an estimate. Example- We are expecting sales of the book to generate around $10,000, although obviously that is just a ballpark figure.
20. Like a bat out of hell- very fast and crazily. Example- Yesterday John was driving like a bat out of hell.
21. A hot potato- a problem so controversial and sensitive that is risky to deal with. Example- I never discuss about anyone’s religion, it can be a hot potato.
22. A picture paints a thousand words- a visual representation is far more descriptive than words. Example- Such a beautiful portrait of a little girl – represents how a picture paints a thousand words.
23. Leave no stone unturned- To do everything you can to achieve your goal. Example- I left no stone unturned to raise money for my company.
24. Blood is thicker than water – the family bond is closer than anything else. Example- When my best friend and my brother got in a fight I had to help my brother; blood is thicker than water.
25. Chow down – to eat. Example- At the end of a long trek, we were all hungry and ready to chow down whatever was offered.
