| A | B |
|---|
| He needs to take the bull by the horns. | He needs to act decisively and with conviction. |
| This is going to the dogs. | This situation is deteriorating. |
| He was barking up the wrong tree. | He is misunderstood or is totally incorrect. |
| He just hit the nail on the head. | He has accurately described what causes a particular situation/problem. |
| He went out on a limb for you. | He took a risk for you or did something for you that most would not have done. |
| He got that straight from the horse's mouth. | He received that information from a totally reliable source. |
| He is trying to keep up with the Joneses. | He is trying to match his friends/neighbors in social standing or in money spending. |
| Tongues were wagging when Jake and Jenna were seen together. | People were talking/ gossiping. |
| We need to bury the hatchet. | He and I need to make peace. |
| We rolled out the red carpet when he came to visit. | He gave a special welcome to an important person. |
| He better put his nose to the grindstone. | He should apply himself conscientiously to his work. |
| He was sitting on pins and needles. | He is in a concerned state over the future outcome of something important. |
| When he heard that, he flew off the handle. | He became suddenly enraged. |
| We went out of the frying pan and into the fire. | He got out of a bad situation and went into one that was worse. |
| Don’t worry about him; he knows how to toot his own horn. | He brags about his own talents. |
| Stop pulling my leg. | He needs to stop fooling me with ridiculous stories. |
| He was preaching to the choir. | He was trying to convince me to believe, but I already hold that belief. |
| He paid through the nose. | He spent a lot of money for something. |
| He was just horsing around. | He was playing aimlessly. |
| This is for the birds. | This is totally meaningless. |
| He said it tongue in cheek. | He was just joking. |
| This has gone to the dogs. | It has become run down and in need of repair. |
| Something is fishy. | This is strange and suspicious. |
| You let the cat out of the bag. | You released information prematurely. |
| Cat got your tongue? | Are you keeping quiet about something? |
| The kids got in my hair today. | The kids bothered me and made me angry. |
| He jumped down my throat. | He got angry and yelled. |
| He said that tongue in cheek. | He said it as a joke. |
| I am pulling your leg. | I am trying to fool you with a ridiculous story. |
| He is all thumbs. | He is clumsy and awkward. |
| He strung her along. | He deceived her. |
| I left him high and dry. | I left him to do all the work w/o any help. |
| She bit the dust. | She was defeated badly. |
| Johnny jumped the gun. | Johnny acted too hastily. |
| He kicked the bucket. | He died. |
| James is a wet blanket. | James acts in a way that prevents others from having a good time because of his pessimism. |
| Eric is not out of the woods yet. | Eric is not out of difficulty or danger. |
| It is difficult to make ends meet. | There is hardly enough money to pay the bills. |
| Money talks. | Money has the power to influence people. |
| She's a peach. | She is sweet and helpful. |
| He is full of beans. | He is not telling the truth. |
| It is not my cup of tea. | I don't care for that. |
| That's just sour grapes. | They have resentment. |
| I am in a pickle. | I am in a dilemma. |
| He is the salt of the Earth. | He's a good person. |
| She is worth her salt. | She is valuable. |
| Jack does not have a leg to stand on. | Jack's position/argument does not have a strong foundation of facts to support it. |
