| No. | Item | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | a dime a dozen | very common and cheap |
| 2. | a double-edged sword | has both good and bad |
| 3. | a feather in your cap | an achievement to be proud of |
| 4. | agree to disagree | accept different opinions |
| 5. | ahead of the curve | more advanced than others |
| 6. | all hands on deck | everyone must help |
| 7. | at the eleventh hour | just before the deadline |
| 8. | at the end of the day | ultimately |
| 9. | back to the drawing board | start over with a plan |
| 10. | be in the driver’s seat | be in control |
| 11. | beat around the bush | avoid the main topic |
| 12. | behind the eight ball | in a difficult position |
| 13. | break the ice | start a conversation comfortably |
| 14. | burn the candle at both ends | overwork without enough rest |
| 15. | burn the midnight oil | work late into night |
| 16. | by the book | following rules exactly |
| 17. | call it a day | stop working for now |
| 18. | clear the air | resolve tension openly |
| 19. | climb the ladder | advance in your career |
| 20. | cover all bases | prepare for every possibility |
| 21. | crunch time | time of intense work |
| 22. | cut corners | do something too cheaply |
| 23. | cut someone some slack | be less strict |
| 24. | cut to the chase | get to the point |
| 25. | dot the i’s and cross the t’s | check every small detail |
| 26. | down to the wire | at the last moment |
| 27. | find common ground | discover shared agreement |
| 28. | get down to brass tacks | focus on essentials |
| 29. | get the ball rolling | start a process |
| 30. | get the green light | receive permission to proceed |
| 31. | get your ducks in a row | organize things properly |
| 32. | get your foot in the door | gain an initial opportunity |
| 33. | give credit where it’s due | acknowledge deserved praise |
| 34. | go the extra mile | do more than required |
| 35. | go through the motions | do something without enthusiasm |
| 36. | hands are tied | unable to act freely |
| 37. | hit a wall | suddenly lose progress |
| 38. | hit the ground running | start strongly right away |
| 39. | in a tight spot | in a difficult situation |
| 40. | in hot water | in trouble |
| 41. | in the nick of time | just in time |
| 42. | jump through hoops | do many required tasks |
| 43. | keep in the loop | keep informed |
| 44. | keep someone in the dark | withhold information |
| 45. | keep the ball rolling | maintain momentum |
| 46. | keep your chin up | stay positive |
| 47. | keep your eye on the ball | stay focused |
| 48. | keep your head above water | manage to survive financially |
| 49. | keep your nose to the grindstone | work hard continuously |
| 50. | lay your cards on the table | be fully honest |
| 51. | learn the ropes | learn how things work |
| 52. | leave no stone unturned | search thoroughly |
| 53. | let the cat out of the bag | reveal something accidentally |
| 54. | level the playing field | make conditions fair |
| 55. | make ends meet | manage financially |
| 56. | meet someone halfway | compromise with someone |
| 57. | miss the forest for the trees | focus on details too much |
| 58. | on the back burner | given low priority |
| 59. | on the same page | in agreement |
| 60. | on thin ice | in a risky situation |
| 61. | out of the loop | not informed |
| 62. | pat on the back | praise for good work |
| 63. | pay your dues | earn progress through effort |
| 64. | pull rank | use authority unfairly |
| 65. | pull strings | use influence to help |
| 66. | pull your socks up | improve your effort |
| 67. | pull your weight | do your fair share |
| 68. | put your best foot forward | make a good impression |
| 69. | put your foot in your mouth | say something embarrassing |
| 70. | raise the bar | increase expectations |
| 71. | read between the lines | infer the hidden meaning |
| 72. | read the room | sense others’ reactions |
| 73. | red tape | excessive bureaucracy |
| 74. | rule of thumb | a practical general guideline |
| 75. | run out of steam | lose energy or momentum |
| 76. | seal the deal | finalize an agreement |
| 77. | see eye to eye | agree completely |
| 78. | sell yourself | promote your strengths effectively |
| 79. | smooth things over | reduce conflict |
| 80. | spill the beans | reveal a secret |
| 81. | stack the deck | arrange unfair advantage |
| 82. | step up to the plate | accept responsibility |
| 83. | sweeten the deal | make an offer more attractive |
| 84. | take it with a grain of salt | be skeptical about it |
| 85. | the bottom line | the most important result |
| 86. | the devil is in the details | details can cause problems |
| 87. | think on your feet | respond quickly and well |
| 88. | tighten your belt | spend less money |
| 89. | time is money | time has high value |
| 90. | tip the scales | influence the outcome |
| 91. | touch base | make brief contact |
| 92. | under the gun | under pressure |
| 93. | up in the air | not decided yet |
| 94. | up the ante | increase demands or risk |
| 95. | walking on eggshells | acting very carefully |
| 96. | water under the bridge | past issues no longer matter |
| 97. | wear many hats | do many different roles |
| 98. | weather the storm | survive a difficult period |
| 99. | when all is said and done | in the end |
| 100. | worth its weight in gold | extremely valuable |
