| No. | Item | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | a blessing in disguise | a good thing that seemed bad |
| 2. | a dime a dozen | very common and not special |
| 3. | a drop in the bucket | a very small amount |
| 4. | a feather in your cap | something to be proud of |
| 5. | a fish out of water | someone out of place |
| 6. | a fly in the ointment | a small thing that spoils |
| 7. | a leopard can’t change spots | people can’t change their nature |
| 8. | a piece of cake | something very easy |
| 9. | a slap on the wrist | a mild punishment |
| 10. | a storm in a teacup | big fuss over little |
| 11. | a taste of your own medicine | treated the same bad way |
| 12. | a tough nut to crack | a difficult problem or person |
| 13. | a wolf in sheep’s clothing | dangerous person who seems harmless |
| 14. | ace up your sleeve | a hidden advantage |
| 15. | add fuel to the fire | make a bad situation worse |
| 16. | all bark and no bite | threatening but not harmful |
| 17. | all ears | listening very carefully |
| 18. | all in the same boat | in the same difficult situation |
| 19. | all that glitters isn’t gold | looks good but isn’t |
| 20. | all thumbs | clumsy with your hands |
| 21. | back to square one | return to the beginning |
| 22. | back to the drawing board | start again from scratch |
| 23. | bad blood | lasting hostility between people |
| 24. | bark up the wrong tree | pursue the wrong idea |
| 25. | beat a dead horse | waste effort on the pointless |
| 26. | beat around the bush | avoid saying it directly |
| 27. | bend over backwards | try extremely hard to help |
| 28. | best of both worlds | two good things together |
| 29. | bet your bottom dollar | be completely sure |
| 30. | beyond the pale | unacceptable or shocking |
| 31. | call it a day | stop working for now |
| 32. | call the shots | be in control |
| 33. | carry the can | take the blame |
| 34. | cast pearls before swine | offer value to the ungrateful |
| 35. | catch-22 | a no-win situation |
| 36. | caught red-handed | caught in the act |
| 37. | change your tune | change your opinion or story |
| 38. | chew the fat | chat casually |
| 39. | chip on your shoulder | a resentful attitude |
| 40. | chomping at the bit | eager to start |
| 41. | dark horse | unexpected winner or talent |
| 42. | dead as a doornail | completely dead |
| 43. | devil’s advocate | argue the opposite side |
| 44. | dig your heels in | refuse to change your mind |
| 45. | do a double take | look again in surprise |
| 46. | do the trick | work successfully |
| 47. | dog-eat-dog | ruthlessly competitive |
| 48. | don’t count your chickens | don’t assume success too soon |
| 49. | don’t cry wolf | don’t raise false alarms |
| 50. | down in the dumps | feeling sad or depressed |
| 51. | eager beaver | an overly enthusiastic worker |
| 52. | eat humble pie | admit you were wrong |
| 53. | eat your words | take back what you said |
| 54. | elephant in the room | obvious issue everyone avoids |
| 55. | every cloud has a silver lining | good can come from bad |
| 56. | face the music | accept the consequences |
| 57. | fair-weather friend | friend only in good times |
| 58. | fall through the cracks | be overlooked or missed |
| 59. | feather your nest | use position for personal gain |
| 60. | feel under the weather | feel slightly ill |
| 61. | fight tooth and nail | fight very fiercely |
| 62. | find your feet | become confident in new situation |
| 63. | fit as a fiddle | very healthy |
| 64. | flash in the pan | brief success that fades quickly |
| 65. | fly off the handle | suddenly lose your temper |
| 66. | for the birds | worthless or silly |
| 67. | frog in your throat | hoarse voice, hard to speak |
| 68. | from the horse’s mouth | from the original source |
| 69. | get off scot-free | escape without punishment |
| 70. | get the ball rolling | start something happening |
| 71. | get the hang of it | learn how to do it |
| 72. | get your act together | become organized and responsible |
| 73. | give someone the slip | escape from someone following |
| 74. | give the cold shoulder | ignore someone deliberately |
| 75. | go down in flames | fail spectacularly |
| 76. | go out on a limb | take a risk |
| 77. | go the extra mile | make special effort |
| 78. | go to pot | deteriorate badly |
| 79. | hair of the dog | alcohol to cure a hangover |
| 80. | hand over fist | rapidly and in large amounts |
| 81. | hang by a thread | be in great danger |
| 82. | have bigger fish to fry | have more important things |
| 83. | have your head in the clouds | be unrealistic or dreamy |
| 84. | hit the nail on the head | say exactly the right thing |
| 85. | hit the sack | go to bed |
| 86. | hold your horses | wait and slow down |
| 87. | hot under the collar | angry or embarrassed |
| 88. | in a pickle | in a difficult situation |
| 89. | in hot water | in trouble |
| 90. | it takes two to tango | both sides share blame |
| 91. | jump on the bandwagon | join because it’s popular |
| 92. | jump the gun | act too soon |
| 93. | keep your chin up | stay positive despite trouble |
| 94. | kick the bucket | die |
| 95. | kill two birds with one stone | achieve two things at once |
| 96. | knock on wood | hope to avoid bad luck |
| 97. | know the ropes | understand how things work |
| 98. | let sleeping dogs lie | avoid stirring up trouble |
| 99. | let the cat out of the bag | reveal a secret |
| 100. | like a bull in a china shop | very clumsy and careless |