| No. | Item | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | a drop in the bucket | a very small amount |
| 2. | a tough nut to crack | a hard problem |
| 3. | a win-win | beneficial for everyone |
| 4. | above board | honest and legal |
| 5. | ahead of the curve | more advanced than others |
| 6. | at the end of the day | ultimately; in conclusion |
| 7. | back on track | returned to progress |
| 8. | back to the drawing board | start over with a new plan |
| 9. | ballpark figure | rough estimate |
| 10. | bang for your buck | value for money |
| 11. | behind the eight ball | in a difficult spot |
| 12. | burn the midnight oil | work late into night |
| 13. | by the book | following rules exactly |
| 14. | call the shots | make the decisions |
| 15. | circle back | return to a topic later |
| 16. | connect the dots | see the relationship |
| 17. | crunch time | a very busy period |
| 18. | cut corners | do something cheaply |
| 19. | cut to the chase | get to the point |
| 20. | cut your losses | stop further loss |
| 21. | dot the i’s and | be very thorough |
| 22. | down to the wire | at the last moment |
| 23. | draw the line | set a limit |
| 24. | drop the ball | make a mistake |
| 25. | find your footing | become comfortable |
| 26. | for what it’s worth | as a consideration |
| 27. | front and center | most important focus |
| 28. | get the ball rolling | start something happening |
| 29. | get the gist | understand the main idea |
| 30. | get up to speed | become fully informed |
| 31. | get your ducks in | get organized |
| 32. | give and take | mutual compromise |
| 33. | go the extra mile | make additional effort |
| 34. | hit a snag | encounter a problem |
| 35. | hit the ground running | start quickly and effectively |
| 36. | hit your stride | reach best pace |
| 37. | hold all the cards | have the advantage |
| 38. | hold the line | maintain position |
| 39. | hold your horses | wait and be patient |
| 40. | in hot water | in trouble |
| 41. | in over your head | too difficult for you |
| 42. | in the driver’s seat | in control |
| 43. | in the grand scheme | in the overall context |
| 44. | in the loop | kept informed |
| 45. | jump the gun | act too soon |
| 46. | jump through hoops | do many requirements |
| 47. | keep it under wraps | keep it secret |
| 48. | keep someone posted | keep someone updated |
| 49. | keep your chin up | stay positive |
| 50. | keep your cool | stay calm |
| 51. | keep your eye on the ball | stay focused |
| 52. | keep your head above | avoid financial trouble |
| 53. | learn the ropes | learn how things work |
| 54. | leave no stone unturned | search thoroughly |
| 55. | level the playing field | make it fair |
| 56. | long story short | in summary |
| 57. | lose steam | lose energy or momentum |
| 58. | low-hanging fruit | easy opportunities |
| 59. | make ends meet | manage financially |
| 60. | meet halfway | compromise |
| 61. | move the needle | make a noticeable difference |
| 62. | nickel-and-dime | charge small amounts |
| 63. | off the rails | out of control |
| 64. | on board | agree to participate |
| 65. | on the back burner | delayed for later |
| 66. | on the horizon | likely soon |
| 67. | on the right track | making good progress |
| 68. | on the same page | in agreement |
| 69. | on thin ice | in a risky position |
| 70. | out of the loop | not kept informed |
| 71. | pay through the nose | pay too much |
| 72. | penny wise, pound foolish | cheap now, costly later |
| 73. | pull your weight | do your fair share |
| 74. | put out fires | handle urgent problems |
| 75. | put two and two | infer the obvious |
| 76. | put your foot down | be firm |
| 77. | raise a red flag | signal a problem |
| 78. | raise the bar | set higher standards |
| 79. | read between the lines | infer hidden meaning |
| 80. | red tape | excessive bureaucracy |
| 81. | rule of thumb | general guideline |
| 82. | run it up the flagpole | test an idea |
| 83. | smooth sailing | easy progress |
| 84. | spill the beans | reveal a secret |
| 85. | split the difference | compromise equally |
| 86. | stack the deck | make it unfair |
| 87. | stand your ground | refuse to back down |
| 88. | step up to the plate | take responsibility |
| 89. | take it offline | discuss privately later |
| 90. | take with a grain | be skeptical |
| 91. | the bottom line | the key result |
| 92. | the elephant in the room | an obvious unspoken issue |
| 93. | the tip of the iceberg | small visible part |
| 94. | the writing on the wall | clear sign of trouble |
| 95. | think outside the box | be creative |
| 96. | touch base | make brief contact |
| 97. | under the gun | under pressure |
| 98. | under your belt | already achieved or gained experience |
| 99. | wear many hats | do many roles |
| 100. | wrap your head around | understand something |
