1. Bite the bullet

    Meaning: To face a difficult or unpleasant situation with courage.

    Example: She had to bite the bullet and tell her boss about the mistake.

2. Break a leg

    Meaning: Good luck.

    Example: Before the performance, the director told the actors to break a leg.

3. Burning the midnight oil

    Meaning: Working late into the night.

    Example: He’s been burning the midnight oil to finish his project on time.

4. Don’t cry over spilled milk

    Meaning: Don’t waste time worrying about things that have already happened and cannot be changed.

    Example: I know you made a mistake, but don’t cry over spilled milk; learn from it instead.

5. Cost an arm and a leg

    Meaning: To be very expensive.

    Example: That designer handbag cost me an arm and a leg.

6. Caught between a rock and a hard place

    Meaning: Facing a difficult decision with no easy solution.

    Example: She was caught between a rock and a hard place when she had to choose between two job offers.

7. A piece of cake

    Meaning: Something very easy to do.

    Example: Passing that test was a piece of cake for her.

8. On the same page

    Meaning: To have a shared understanding or agreement.

    Example: We need to get everyone on the same page before starting the project.

9. Hit the nail on the head

    Meaning: To describe or do something exactly right.

    Example: His analysis hit the nail on the head; it was spot on.

10. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch

     Meaning: Don’t make plans based on something that hasn’t happened yet.

     Example: I know you’re excited about the promotion, but don’t count your chickens before they hatch.

11. Once in a blue moon

     Meaning: Very rarely.

     Example: They only visit us once in a blue moon.

12. Break the ice

     Meaning: To start a conversation in a social setting.

     Example: He tried to break the ice by asking about her weekend plans.

13. The ball is in your court

     Meaning: It’s your turn to make a decision or take action.

     Example: I’ve done my part; now the ball is in your court.

14. Keep your chin up

     Meaning: Stay positive and optimistic, especially in difficult times.

     Example: I know things are tough right now, but you need to keep your chin up.

15. The elephant in the room

     Meaning: An obvious problem or issue that everyone is ignoring.

     Example: The budget deficit is the elephant in the room that no one wants to discuss.

16. A penny for your thoughts

     Meaning: A way of asking someone what they are thinking.

     Example: You look deep in thought; a penny for your thoughts?

17. In the same boat

     Meaning: In the same situation or predicament.

     Example: We’re all facing financial difficulties; we’re in the same boat.

18. Read between the lines

     Meaning: To understand a deeper or hidden meaning in what someone is saying or writing.

     Example: Her words were polite, but I could read between the lines and tell she was upset.

19. When pigs fly

     Meaning: Something that will never happen.

     Example: You think he’ll apologize? When pigs fly!

20. Jumping on the bandwagon

     Meaning: Following a trend or popular activity.

     Example: He’s just jumping on the bandwagon because everyone else is doing it.

21. Hitting the jackpot

     Meaning: Finding great success or winning a big prize.

     Example: She hit the jackpot when she invested in that startup.

22. A drop in the bucket

     Meaning: A very small amount compared to what is needed.

     Example: The money we raised is just a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of the project.

23. In hot water

     Meaning: In trouble or facing difficulties.

     Example: He’s in hot water with his boss for missing the deadline.

24. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket

     Meaning: Don’t risk everything on a single plan; have a backup.

     Example: She diversified her investments because she didn’t want to put all her eggs in one basket.

25. A storm in a teacup

     Meaning: An overreaction to a minor issue.

     Example: Their argument about the TV remote is just a storm in a teacup.

26. The straw that broke the camel’s back

     Meaning: The final, seemingly minor, event that causes a situation to become unbearable.

     Example: The argument over dinner was the straw that broke the camel’s back in their relationship.

27. Spill the beans

     Meaning: To reveal a secret or confidential information.

     Example: He couldn’t keep it to himself and spilled the beans about the surprise party.

28. A wolf in sheep’s clothing

     Meaning: Someone who appears harmless but is actually dangerous.

     Example: You can’t trust him; he’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

29. All ears

     Meaning: Fully attentive and eager to listen.

     Example: When she started talking about her trip, we were all ears.

30. Burning bridges

     Meaning: Destroying relationships or opportunities that could be valuable in the future.

     Example: He’s really burning bridges by quitting his job without notice.

31. Cry wolf

     Meaning: To raise a false alarm.

     Example: He cried wolf so many times that no one believed him when there was a real emergency.

32. Behind the eightball

     Meaning: In a difficult or disadvantageous position.

     Example: Failing that exam put him behind the eightball for graduation.

33. Break the bank

     Meaning: To spend all of one’s money.

     Example: Going on that vacation would break the bank for me right now.

34. Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater

     Meaning: Don’t discard something valuable while getting rid of something undesirable.

     Example: Yes, there are problems with the project, but let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater.

35. By the book

     Meaning: To do something strictly according to established rules or guidelines.

     Example: He followed the instructions by the book to assemble the furniture.

36. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

     Meaning: It’s better to have something that is certain than to risk it for something more desirable but uncertain.

     Example: I know you want a higher salary, but don’t forget that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

37. In the same ballpark

     Meaning: In a similar or close range or category.

     Example: Their estimates for the project cost were in the same ballpark.

38. Couch potato

     Meaning: A person who spends a lot of time sitting and watching television.

     Example: He’s turned into a real couch potato since he started bingewatching that series.

39. Call it a day

     Meaning: To stop working or doing something for the rest of the day.

     Example: We’ve been working on this report all afternoon; let’s call it a day and finish it tomorrow.

40. A watched pot never boils

     Meaning: Time seems to pass more slowly when you’re waiting for something to happen.

     Example: Stop staring at the clock; a watched pot never boils.

41. Cut to the chase

     Meaning: Get to the point without wasting time.

     Example: Instead of going into all the details, can you just cut to the chase and tell me what happened?

42. Walking on air

     Meaning: Feeling extremely happy or elated.

     Example: After receiving the good news, she felt like she was walking on air.

43. Don’t put the cart before the horse

     Meaning: Don’t do things in the wrong order.

     Example: You need to plan your project properly; don’t put the cart before the horse.

44. The apple of my eye

     Meaning: Someone or something that is cherished above all others.

     Example: My granddaughter is the apple of my eye.

45. Keep your fingers crossed

     Meaning: To hope for good luck or a positive outcome.

     Example: Keep your fingers crossed that the weather stays clear for the outdoor event.

46. Raining cats and dogs

     Meaning: Raining heavily.

     Example: We can’t go outside; it’s been raining cats and dogs all day.

47. A watched kettle never boils

     Meaning: When you’re impatiently waiting for something, it seems to take longer.

     Example: Waiting for the test results feels like a watched kettle that never boils.

48. The early bird catches the worm

     Meaning: Those who take action early are more likely to succeed.

     Example: He always arrives at work early because he believes the early bird catches the worm.

49. Bite off more than you can chew

     Meaning: To take on more responsibility or work than one can handle.

     Example: Don’t bite off more than you can chew; you’re already busy enough.

50. Hit the ground running

     Meaning: To start a task or project quickly and energetically.

     Example: She joined the company and hit the ground running, making significant contributions from day one.