1. To give someone a benefit of doubt – to decide that you will believe someone even if you are not sure that what they are saying is true.
Ex – She said she was late because her train got cancelled and we gave her the benefit of doubt.
2. To give someone the cold shoulder – to ignore someone
Ex – I think sally is giving me the cold shoulder.
3. To go back to the drawing board – to start planning something again because the first plan failed.
Ex – Well ! that didn’t work, let’s go back to the drawing board.
4. Good things come to those who wait – be patient
Ex – Stop rushing me ! Good thing come those who wait.
5. Hang in there – said as a way to tell people to not to give up hope, even through difficulties
Ex – Final exams are tough but hang in there, it will be okay.
6. To hit the nail on the head – to get something exactly right
Ex – You have hit the nail of the head, that is the route we should have taken.
7. To hit the sack – to go to bed
Ex – I am tired ! Do you think if i hit the sack ?
8. Ignorance is bliss – You are better off not knowing
Ex – I could ask my boss if she is planning to fire me, but ignorance is bliss.
9. In a nutshell – in the fewest possible words
Ex – In a nutshell, everything went wrong.
10. It takes one to know one – You are just as bad as i am
Ex – You are such a gossip ! it takes one to know one.
11. It’s not rocket science – used to say that you don’t’ think something is very difficult or hard to understand
Ex – I can’t understand you can’t worked out how to use the washing machine, It’s not a rocket science.
12. To jump on the bandwagon – to join an activity, trend or opinion that has become popular.
Ex – I have jumped on the bandwagon and downloaded fortnight.
13. To keep one’s chin up – to keep one’s spirit high
Ex – I am trying to keep my chin up after receiving that rejection letter.
14. To kill two birds with one stone – get two things done with a single action
Ex – We could kill two birds with one stone by stopping off at the bakery on the way home from butchers.
15. To leave no stone unturned – try every possible course of action in order to get something done.
Ex – He left no stone unturned in his search of his natural mother.
16. To let sleeping dogs lie – to leave the situation as it is, in order to not make it worse.
Ex – I think we should let sleeping dogs lie and avoid confronting her about her issues.
17. To let someone off the hook – To allow (someone who has been caught doing something wrong or illegal) to go unpunished.
Ex – This is the third time you have been caught speeding and i don’t think they are going to let you off the hook.
18. To let the cat out of the bag – To reveal a secret
Ex – Don’t let the cat out of the bag, because the party is a surprise.
19. To make a long story short – Used to indicate that you are providing just basic facts and information in order to reduce the length of the story
Ex – To make a long story short, i cancelled the party because of financial problems.
20. To miss the boat – To be too slow to take advantage of an opportunity
Ex – I waited too long to the house prices to be drop and i missed the boat.
21. Neck of the woods – the area where someone comes from, or the area where you are.
Ex – I am surprised to see you in the neck of the woods.
22. No pain no gain – Suffering is necessary in order to achieve something
Ex – I have been going to the gym twice a day and my muscles ache, no pain no gain.
23. Not one’s cup of tea – someone doesn’t like or isn’t interested in something
Ex – I am sorry but line dancing isn’t my cup of tea.
24. Off the top of one’s head – from memory without a lot of thought or consideration.
Ex – Off the top of my head, i think she has been engaged 5 times.
25. On the ball – alert to new ideas, methods and trends
Ex – I like hanging out with younger people, it keeps me on the ball.
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