| No. | Item | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | a big fish in a small pond | important in a small group |
| 2. | a bun in the oven | pregnant |
| 3. | a cup of joe | a cup of coffee |
| 4. | a fine kettle of fish | a messy situation |
| 5. | a lemon | a defective purchase |
| 6. | a storm in a teacup | a big fuss over little |
| 7. | a tough nut to crack | a difficult problem or person |
| 8. | alphabet soup | many confusing abbreviations |
| 9. | as American as apple pie | typically American |
| 10. | as cool as a cucumber | very calm under pressure |
| 11. | bad egg | a dishonest person |
| 12. | boil down to | reduce to essentials |
| 13. | bread and butter | main source of income |
| 14. | break bread | share a meal |
| 15. | bring home the bacon | earn a living; succeed |
| 16. | burnt to a crisp | overcooked; badly burned |
| 17. | butter someone up | flatter to gain favor |
| 18. | butter wouldn’t melt | seem innocent but isn’t |
| 19. | chew on that | think about it |
| 20. | chew the fat | chat casually |
| 21. | chicken out | lose courage |
| 22. | couch potato | a very inactive person |
| 23. | cream of the crop | the very best |
| 24. | cream rises to the top | the best succeed eventually |
| 25. | cry over spilled milk | regret what cannot be changed |
| 26. | cut the mustard | meet expectations |
| 27. | dangle a carrot | offer a tempting reward |
| 28. | easy as pie | very easy |
| 29. | eat crow | accept humiliation |
| 30. | eat humble pie | admit fault publicly |
| 31. | eat like a bird | eat very little |
| 32. | eat out of someone’s hand | be easily controlled |
| 33. | eat someone alive | criticize harshly |
| 34. | eat your heart out | feel jealous or regretful |
| 35. | eat your words | admit you were wrong |
| 36. | egg on your face | be embarrassed |
| 37. | finger-licking good | very tasty |
| 38. | fish out of water | uncomfortable in new surroundings |
| 39. | fork over | pay reluctantly |
| 40. | full of beans | very energetic |
| 41. | go bananas | become very excited or crazy |
| 42. | go to pot | deteriorate badly |
| 43. | half-baked | poorly planned or done |
| 44. | hard to swallow | difficult to accept |
| 45. | have a lot on your plate | have many responsibilities |
| 46. | have a sweet tooth | love sugary foods |
| 47. | have your cake and eat it | want incompatible advantages |
| 48. | hot potato | a controversial issue |
| 49. | icing on the cake | an extra benefit |
| 50. | in a pickle | in a difficult situation |
| 51. | in hot water | in trouble |
| 52. | leave a bad taste | create unpleasant feelings |
| 53. | let it simmer | allow tension to build |
| 54. | like a hot knife through butter | with great ease |
| 55. | like shooting fish in a barrel | extremely easy |
| 56. | like taking candy from a baby | very easy to do |
| 57. | meat and potatoes | the basic practical parts |
| 58. | milk it | exploit for advantage |
| 59. | milk of human kindness | natural compassion |
| 60. | mouth-watering | very appetizing |
| 61. | nest egg | money saved for the future |
| 62. | no spring chicken | not young anymore |
| 63. | not for all the tea in China | not for any reward |
| 64. | not my cup of tea | not to my taste |
| 65. | on a platter | with no effort needed |
| 66. | on the gravy train | benefiting easily and unfairly |
| 67. | other fish to fry | other priorities |
| 68. | out of the frying pan | from bad to worse |
| 69. | pepper someone with questions | ask many questions quickly |
| 70. | pie in the sky | an unrealistic hope |
| 71. | piece of cake | something very easy |
| 72. | pot calling the kettle black | criticize same fault you have |
| 73. | pour oil on troubled waters | calm a dispute |
| 74. | put all your eggs in one basket | risk everything on one plan |
| 75. | raise a toast | drink to honor someone |
| 76. | rat on someone | inform on someone |
| 77. | rub salt in the wound | make pain worse |
| 78. | sell like hotcakes | sell very quickly |
| 79. | slice of the pie | a share of benefits |
| 80. | small potatoes | something unimportant |
| 81. | smell a rat | suspect something wrong |
| 82. | soup to nuts | from beginning to end |
| 83. | sour grapes | bitter after disappointment |
| 84. | spill the beans | reveal a secret |
| 85. | stir the pot | cause trouble intentionally |
| 86. | sugarcoat it | make something seem nicer |
| 87. | take with a grain of salt | be skeptical about something |
| 88. | tea and sympathy | comfort for someone upset |
| 89. | the apple of my eye | someone dearly loved |
| 90. | the big cheese | an important person |
| 91. | the proof is in the pudding | results show the truth |
| 92. | the whole enchilada | everything; the complete thing |
| 93. | toast of the town | much admired person |
| 94. | too many cooks spoil the broth | many helpers ruin results |
| 95. | wake up and smell the coffee | face reality |
| 96. | walk on eggshells | act very carefully |
| 97. | when life gives you lemons | make the best of trouble |
| 98. | when the chips are down | when things get serious |
| 99. | whet your appetite | increase desire for something |
| 100. | worth your salt | deserving respect or pay |
