| 1 |
Play one's cards close to one's chest |
Means to be extremely secretive and cautious about one's intentions |
| 2 |
Wear their feelings on their sleeves |
Means someone is openly and freely displaying their emotions, rather than hiding them |
| 3 |
Chickens come home to roost |
Means that the consequences of one's past actions, especially negative ones, will eventually return to affect them |
| 4 |
The game is afoot |
Means a challenge has been accepted or a new and exciting activity has begun |
| 5 |
Playing hardball |
Means using tough, uncompromising tactics to achieve a goal, often involving being harsh or unfair |
| 6 |
To look like death warmed over |
Used to describe someone who appears very ill, exhausted, or unwell |
| 7 |
Four sheets to the wind |
Means extremely drunk |
| 8 |
Curving |
Means to reject or ignore someone who is trying to initiate a romantic or physical relationship by delaying responses to messages or giving lame excuses for not agreeing to meet |
| 9 |
Hindsight is 20/20 |
Means it is easy to understand something after it has already happened |
| 10 |
Beggars can’t be choosy |
Means people who need something should be satisfied with what they get even if it is not exactly what they wanted |
| 11 |
Dot your i's and cross your t’s |
Means to be very meticulous and pay close attention to every detail, ensuring nothing is overlooked |
| 12 |
You never cease to amaze |
Used to express that one is consistently impressed or surprised by someone or something |
| 13 |
Not up to snuff |
Means not as good as it should be; not up to an acceptable standard |
| 14 |
Up to snuff |
Means to meet the required standard |
| 15 |
Hob·nob |
Means to mix socially |
| 16 |
S—t show |
Means a situation or event marked by chaos or controversy |
| 17 |
Moving at a glacier pace |
Means something is progressing or changing extremely slowly, like the movement of a glacier |
| 18 |
Water under the bridge |
Means something that's in the past and no longer relevant to the current situation |
| 19 |
Doing a 180 |
Means to make a complete about-face or change one's mind or direction, often in a sudden or dramatic way |
| 20 |
Pickup ball and run with it |
Means to take over and develop an idea or plan that someone else initiated, often when they were unable to fully execute it |
| 21 |
Knee-jerk reaction |
Means an automatic, unthinking response to a situation |
| 22 |
Real page turner |
Refers to a book that is so exciting that you want to read it quickly |
| 23 |
Live in the moment |
Means to enjoy the present and not worry about the future |
| 24 |
Shivering in my boots |
Means to be very nervous or frightened |
| 25 |
Running point |
Means taking the lead or being in charge of a specific task or project |
| 26 |
Hoodwink |
Means to deceive or trick |
| 27 |
Bamboozle |
Means to fool or cheat |
| 28 |
Making mountain out of molehill |
Means to exaggerate a minor problem or difficulty, treating it as if it were a much larger and more serious issue |
| 29 |
Burning daylight |
Means to waste time, especially during the daylight hours |
| 30 |
Fresh said of eyes |
Refers to getting someone else to have a look |
| 31 |
Burn it all down |
Means to express extreme frustration or a desire for radical change |
| 32 |
Light it on fire |
Means to motivate or energize someone, to get them to act quickly or forcefully, or to excite or arouse someone |
| 33 |
Scorched earth |
Means a ruthless attempt to win at all costs |
| 34 |
Looking dapper |
Means someone is neat, stylish, and well-dressed, often used to describe a man who is smart and handsome |
| 35 |
Keep the faith |
Means to continue to believe in, trust, or support someone or something when it is difficult to do so |
| 36 |
Everything happens for a reason |
Means that events and experiences, even difficult ones, are not random but have a purpose or underlying cause, often implying a higher, predetermined plan or meaning |
| 37 |
Coming out guns blazing |
Means to approach something with a lot of force, energy, and determination, often in a forceful or aggressive manner |
| 38 |
At a standstill |
Means a situation where all movement or activity has stopped, or no progress is being made |
| 39 |
Stand still |
Means either to remain motionless or to tolerate something |
| 40 |
Sounding board |
Refers to a person or group with whom you discuss ideas to get feedback and assess their viability |
| 41 |
Being stonewalled |
Means when one person becoming unresponsive, withdrawing, and emotionally disengaging during a conflict or conversation, often giving the silent treatment or avoiding eye contact |
| 42 |
Full of bologna |
Means something is filled with nonsense, foolish ideas, or empty words |
| 43 |
Having the time of his life |
Means someone is enjoying themselves immensely and having a lot of fun |
| 44 |
Circle back |
Means to return to a topic or conversation at a later time, often after some delay or after addressing other matters |
| 45 |
A shoo-in |
Means someone or something that is a guaranteed winner or is certain to succeed |
| 46 |
Poker tell |
Refers to any physical, verbal, or behavioral cue a player exhibits that, consciously or unconsciously, reveals information about the strength of their hand or their intended actions |
| 47 |
More bang for the buck |
Better value for the money |
| 48 |
Stir up a hornets nest |
Means to provoke a situation that causes a lot of anger, controversy, or trouble |
| 49 |
Poke the beehive |
Means to intentionally provoke someone or stir up trouble |
| 50 |
Poker face |
Describes an expressionless face that conceals a person's thoughts or feelings |
