| No. | Item | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | a bitter pill | painful but necessary thing |
| 2. | a can of worms | issue that creates more problems |
| 3. | a cold day in hell | something that will never happen |
| 4. | a dark cloud on the horizon | trouble seems likely soon |
| 5. | a disaster waiting to happen | likely to go wrong |
| 6. | a double-edged sword | has both good and bad |
| 7. | a downward spiral | worsening situation over time |
| 8. | a fly in the ointment | small flaw spoils everything |
| 9. | a foregone conclusion | certain outcome already decided |
| 10. | a hard pill to swallow | an unpleasant truth to accept |
| 11. | a hornet’s nest | situation that provokes anger |
| 12. | a house of cards | fragile plan likely to collapse |
| 13. | a long shot | very unlikely chance |
| 14. | a lost cause | hopeless situation |
| 15. | a pipe dream | unrealistic hope or plan |
| 16. | a rude awakening | sudden unpleasant realization |
| 17. | a sinking ship | failing organization or plan |
| 18. | a slippery slope | small step leads to worse |
| 19. | a snowball’s chance in hell | almost no chance |
| 20. | a storm is brewing | trouble is developing |
| 21. | a vicious circle | problems that feed themselves |
| 22. | add fuel to the fire | make a bad situation worse |
| 23. | at the end of my rope | out of patience or hope |
| 24. | back to square one | return to the start |
| 25. | back yourself into a corner | leave yourself no options |
| 26. | between a rock and hard place | stuck between bad choices |
| 27. | black day | day of misfortune |
| 28. | borrow trouble | worry about problems before they happen |
| 29. | built on sand | based on weak foundations |
| 30. | can’t win for losing | nothing works out |
| 31. | come apart at the seams | lose control completely |
| 32. | come to grief | end in disaster |
| 33. | cry over spilled milk | regret what can’t be changed |
| 34. | damned if you do | criticized whatever you choose |
| 35. | dead as a doornail | completely dead or finished |
| 36. | dead in the water | unable to continue |
| 37. | dig your own grave | cause your own failure |
| 38. | dig yourself into a hole | make problems worse for yourself |
| 39. | don’t count your chickens | don’t assume success early |
| 40. | don’t get your hopes up | avoid expecting good news |
| 41. | don’t hold your breath | it probably won’t happen |
| 42. | doom and gloom | hopeless negativity |
| 43. | down in the dumps | feeling very sad |
| 44. | fall apart at the seams | break down completely |
| 45. | fall to pieces | collapse or lose control |
| 46. | from bad to worse | becoming more and more negative |
| 47. | gloom and doom | hopeless negative outlook |
| 48. | go down in flames | fail spectacularly |
| 49. | go from bad to worse | become increasingly worse |
| 50. | go to hell in a handbasket | deteriorate rapidly |
| 51. | go to pieces | break down emotionally |
| 52. | hit rock bottom | reach the worst point |
| 53. | in a bind | in a difficult situation |
| 54. | in deep water | in serious trouble |
| 55. | in dire straits | in extreme difficulty |
| 56. | in hot water | in trouble with others |
| 57. | in over your head | facing more than you can handle |
| 58. | kick someone when they’re down | hurt someone already suffering |
| 59. | lock the barn door | act after damage is done |
| 60. | meet your doom | suffer a terrible end |
| 61. | no turning back | cannot return to before |
| 62. | not a prayer | no chance at all |
| 63. | not in a million years | absolutely never |
| 64. | on shaky ground | unstable and uncertain |
| 65. | on thin ice | in a risky position |
| 66. | one step forward, two back | progress followed by setbacks |
| 67. | out of the frying pan | escape one trouble into another |
| 68. | out of your depth | not skilled enough for it |
| 69. | over my dead body | I will never allow it |
| 70. | paint yourself into a corner | trap yourself by choices |
| 71. | pie in the sky | unrealistic promise of good |
| 72. | play with fire | do something very risky |
| 73. | put a spoke in the wheel | prevent progress |
| 74. | rats leaving the sinking ship | people abandoning a failing cause |
| 75. | rub salt in the wound | remind someone of their pain |
| 76. | salt in the wound | make pain even worse |
| 77. | sealed your fate | made outcome unavoidable |
| 78. | sign your own death warrant | cause your own downfall |
| 79. | stone dead | completely dead |
| 80. | the bottom falls out | sudden total failure |
| 81. | the calm before the storm | peace just before trouble |
| 82. | the damage is done | harm cannot be undone |
| 83. | the devil is in the details | small details cause big problems |
| 84. | the devil you know | familiar evil seems safer |
| 85. | the die is cast | decision cannot be changed |
| 86. | the game is up | you have been found out |
| 87. | the jig is up | the secret is revealed |
| 88. | the lesser of two evils | choose the less bad option |
| 89. | the point of no return | stage beyond reversal |
| 90. | the wheels are coming off | things are falling apart |
| 91. | the writing is on the wall | clear sign of failure ahead |
| 92. | the writing on the wall | signs of coming trouble |
| 93. | throw a spanner in the works | cause disruption to plans |
| 94. | throw a wrench in it | cause a plan to fail |
| 95. | up against it | facing serious difficulties |
| 96. | up the creek | in serious trouble |
| 97. | waiting for the other shoe | expecting more bad news |
| 98. | what’s done is done | past cannot be changed |
| 99. | when it rains, it pours | problems come all at once |
| 100. | wishful thinking | hoping despite reality |