Strong enough to put hair on my chest

In this expression the word "strong" means very powerful or potent. It's used (humorously, of course) to describe something -- usually a beverage -- that is unusually strong. "Wow, this coffee is strong enough to put hair on my chest!" Mr. Wilson gulped. "I can see that," Mrs. Wilson frowned. "There goes another button."

 

 

Sweet on someone

There seems no doubt that Bumble is sweet on Bea. "Bea, you are a beauty," Bumble mumbled. Bea blushed. "Bumble, you are a busy bee. Is that honey for me?" "Yes, " Bumble bubbled, "because I'm sweet on you. " Bumble is saying he is very fond of Bea. Could it be that this bee is in love?

 

 

Take a hike

Egbert is in serious trouble. "Look at those sales figures! They're disgraceful," the boss shouted. "If you don't do something to correct matters you may be asked to take a hike!" Idiomatically take a hike means to go away, to leave. In Egbert's case, he's in danger of being dismissed.

 

 

Too big for one's boots

Bobby has risen through the ranks so quickly that there are some who think he's now much too big for his boots. That is, he is very conceited, acts self-important and is overly ambitious. "Bobby has gotten too big for his boots," the general said. "He's starting to give me orders now!"

 

 

Take someone under one's wing

Mother birds protect their young by bringing them close and covering them with their wings. That has given us this expression, and it means to help -- and sometimes protect -- a person. "Jenny has decided to take our new employee under her wing and show her how to do the job faster." "I don't like going out alone at night. I wish my big brother would take me under his wing and walk with me to the library."

 

 

Born with a silver spoon in one's mouth

Not everyone is born with a silver spoon in his or her mouth. Those who are, though, are born into a wealthy family and it is assumed that they will lead comfortable lives filled with material riches. All of us could probably name several children we know who have been blessed in this way, but the one that comes to my mind is the little Prince. "I notice your son has been born with a silver spoon in his mouth," Nurse Dion said to the King. "I wonder what kind of person I would be if I had been born with a silver spoon in my mouth? she asked.

 

 

Go like a lamb to (the) slaughter

Lambs are known for their meek and quiet dispositions. They seem to be always calm and they make no protest. Because of that, when a person allows himself to be punished or placed in danger without complaining, we say he goes like a lamb to slaughter. "I won't give up my job without a fight," Muriel cried when she learned she was about to be transferred to another department. "I will not go like a lamb to the slaughter," she said.

 

 

Rob Peter to pay Paul

There are a number of stories concerning the origins of this expression, but no one is sure where it comes from. What is known is that it has been in use since 1380, which may explain why we don't know much about its beginnings. It describes taking or borrowing something from one person (Peter) to repay a debt owed to someone else (Paul). "Gregory wants to borrow some money from me so he can repay a loan. I declined, saying that would be like robbing Peter to pay Paul. "

 

 

If the cap fits, wear it

If something unpleasant is said about someone, something that could just as easily apply to you, you should take notice of it. If necessary, you should accept is as constructive criticism. That's what we mean when we say if the cap fits, wear it. "I didn't say you look funny, but if the cap fits, wear it!"

 

 

Paint with a wide brush

A person doesn't have to be an artist to paint with a wide brush. That's because this means to think, speak, plan or act in a big way. Instead of restricting oneself to individual items, the person painting with a wide brush looks at a variety of issues. Robert agrees with that. "When planning your career, it's a good idea to think big and paint with a wide brush," he said.

 

Sing someone's praises

One sunny day Andy came across the most magnificent peacock he had ever seen. "There has never been such a remarkable peacock!" he cried out. "That surely must be the most beautiful bird in the entire kingdom!" From that day on, Andy went on singing the bird's praises. In fact, so full of praise was he that no one dared tell him that the peacock he saw was himself! To sing someone's praises is to say wonderful and complimentary things about someone, and it usually means saying those nice things over and over.

 

 

A happy hunting ground

The North American Indians believed that when they died their souls would move on to a place where they would spend eternity happily fishing and hunting. However, when people speak of a happy hunting ground today, they mean an area rich in opportunities or one that will prove profitable to them. "I have discovered that the library is a happy hunting ground for my research work." "This beach is a happy hunting ground to anyone interested in collecting seashells."

 

 

Make one's head swim

"A sight like that makes my head swim!" Seth exclaimed. "Why?" Bighead asked. "For the simple reason that nobody here knows how to swim. Therefore, if one of those guys falls into the sea, none of us could rescue him!" he cried. "I guess that explains why on one has ever left this island alive. Bighead replied. Something that makes one's head swim is something that is puzzling or causes confusion.

 

 

Like a fish out of water

A person said to be like a fish out of water is in a strange situation or environment and therefore feels uncertain what to do or how to conduct himself/herself. "I went to Martha's party but I was like a fish out of water for I didn't know anyone there," Iris said. "When I first got to Canada I knew very little English so I often felt like a fish out of water," Peter said. "But now that I've learned the language, I no longer feel that way," he added.

 

 

Drop like a stone

Hamingway has been trying to sell a select piece of property for months. "I want to get rid of this place before it falls!" Hamingway whispered. People looking at the property watched as hamingway's price kept dropping like a stone until someone finally bought it. "When the price of something drops like a stone, it falls far and it falls quickly," the new owner grinned.

 

 

(As) Ripe as a cherry

Rodney was taking a stroll when he came upon a nice big plate of fresh cherries. "I don't know where those cherries came from," he burped, "but I could see that they were as ripe as a cherry, so I ate them." He burped again. "Besides, I wanted to see if it's true that fruit said to be (as) ripe as a cherry is really fully mature and ready to eat. " Having said that, Rodney slid away. To a hungry bird, he probably looked ripe as a cherry himself!

 

 

The penny drops

Oliver was sound asleep when a short but violent trembling action shook his room and rattled his bed. "That may be an earthquake," he thought, but then he remembered that he was an ant and the penny dropped. "Oh, that's just someone around overhead," he said. This expression means to finally realize or understand something after spending a little time thinking about it.

 

 

A mare's nest

A mare is a female horse, and we know that female horses do not built nests in trees! That's why a mare's nest is either something that does not exist or a discovery that turns out to be worthless. Nelly has generously agreed to sit in a tree and provide you with examples. "My friend Angus says he has found a way to turn stone into gold, but I suspect it will be another one of his mare's nests," Nelly said. "He also says he has away of knowing which horse will win in a race. I think his wisdom is something of a mare's nest too."

 

 

A slinging/slanging match

There are two ways to say this expression: The Americans say slinging, and the British say slanging. It may help to know that sling means to throw something, while slang means to shout naughty words. In the end, though, a slinging / slanging match is a loud, angry quarrel with two or more individuals shouting at each other. "The debate ended when the participants got into a slinging / slanging match. " "Tommy left the playing field to avoid getting into a slinging / slanging match with the visiting players."

 

 

Done with mirrors

We often wonder how magicians perform their tricks. We think they use mirrors, and that has given us this expression. It's used (humorously) to explain how something that appears difficult, clever or unusual is done. "When I asked Sally how she could work full-time and still get straight As in her distance learning classes, she laughed and said it was done with mirrors. " "I don't know how Felix manages to stay looking so young. Maybe it's done with mirrors."

 

 

Heads roll

Alves is realistic. "To live together in harmony we can't tolerate any nonsense," he said. while most of Alves's neighbors understand that, now and then one of them gets awfully silly. That's when Alves displays his anger and that's when heads roll! The expression heads roll means that someone is being punished, in particular because he or she has failed in the performance of a duty. In a job situation, the person can be dismissed or demoted!

 

 

Let someone in on something

I'll let you in on something: Barton is very fond of Emma. See, he's always doing something to impress her. Right now he's entertaining her. "Gee, how did you do that? Let me in on your trick!" she asked. To let someone in on something is to share information or a secret with someone.

 

Food:

 

Eat humble pie		If you eat humble pie, you speak or behave in a way which tells people that you admit you were wrong about something.
example:-		Anson was forced to eat humble pie and publicly apologizes to her.

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The apple of one's eye		If you say that someone is the apple of your eye, you mean that they are very important to you and you are extremely fond of them
example:-		Penny's only son was the apple of her eye.

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Go bananas		If someone is behaving in a silly or mad way, you can say that they are going bananas.
example:-		People went bananas with boredom.

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A piece of cake		If you think something is very easy to do, you can say it is a piece of cake. People often say this to stop someone feeling worried about doing something they have to do
example:-		Getting rid of him will be a piece of cake.........

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As cool as a cucumber		If you say that someone is as cool as a cucumber, you are emphasizing that they are very calm and relaxed, especially when you would not expect them to be.
example:-		You can hardly be held responsible for Darrow waltzing in, cool as a cucumber, and demanding thousands of pounds.

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Bring home the bacon		The person in a family who brings home the bacon provides the family with the money they need to live.
example:-		Who brings up the baby and who brings home the bacon

 

 

Colors:

 

Tickled pink	If you are tickled pink, you are extremely pleased about something.
In the pink	If you are in the pink, you are fit, healthy, and happy
Pink slip	Termination notice from a job
Feel blue	If you are feeling blue, you are feeling sad or depressed often when there is no particular reason.
Once in a blue moon	If you say that something happens once in a blue moon, you are emphasizing that it does not happen very often at all.
Out of the blue	Without any warning, by surprise
White elephant	If you describe something as a white elephant, you mean that it is a waste of money because it is completely useless.
White lie	If you refer to an untrue statement as a white lie, you mean that it is made to avoid hurting someone's feelings or to avoid trouble and not for an evil purpose.
Black and white	You say that something is in black and white when it has been written or printed, and not just said.
Black sheep	If you describe someone as the black sheep of their family of a group that they are a member of, you mean that they are considered bad or worthless by other people in that family or group.
pot calling the kettle black	- the person who is criticizing someone else is as guilty as the person he accuses
In the red	If a person or company is in the red or if their bank account is in the red, they have spent more money than they have in their account and therefore they owe money to the bank.
Red herring	If you say that something is a red herring, you mean that it is irrelevant and takes your attention away from the main subject or problem you are considering.
Red tape	You refer to official rules and procedures as red tape when they seem unnecessary and cause delay.
Red-handed	If someone is caught red-handed, they are caught while they are in the act of doing something wrong.
See red	Become very angry
Green thumb	If you say that someone has green thumb (fingers), you mean that they are very good at gardening and their plants grow well.
Give someone the green light	If someone in authority gives a green light to something, they give permission for it to happen or be done.
Green with envy	Very jealous, full of envy
With flying colors	With great or total success

 

 

Bone:

 

bone-dry		Having no trace of moisture.
example:-		Believe it or not, I hung out the washing only an hour ago and it is already bone-dry.

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skin and bones		a person who is unusually thin
example:-		When I saw Pauline, I could hardly recognize her because she was just skin and bones. Cancer exacts a heavy toll, I reflected sadly.

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bone-idle		Extremely lazy
example:-		If you continue to be bone-idle, your boss might sack you.

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bone up		Study intensively
example:-		My pen-friend Joelle from France is visiting me next month so I had better bone up on my French.

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make no bones about		Act or speak frankly about something, without hesitation or evasion
example:-		They openly voiced their dissatisfaction with the service, making no bones about it at all.

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a bone to pick		to want to talk to someone about something annoying they have done:
example:-		You bet I have a bone to pick with you. You promised to take me on that holiday but then you took someone else with you!

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work one's fingers to the bone		to work extremely, especially for a long time
example:-		After years of working her fingers to the bone to give her children a a good future, she managed to achieve her goal.

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bone of contention		something that two or more people argue about fiercely over a long period of time
example:-		The property issue long remained a bone of contention among the Tay siblings. It even prevented their getting together for a family reunion dinner during the New Year celebrations.

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bare-bones		basic elements or essentials
example:-		How do you expect me to help you when all you've told me is nothing more than the bare bones? I need more information, surely.

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feel in one's bones		Have an intuition or hunch about something
example:-		Trust me; she'll be selected for the post. Don't ask me how; I can just feel it in my bones.

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close to the bone		it is close to the truth in a way that might offend some people.
example:-		Of course it upset Mei Ling to hear what Lian had to say about Meng. Don't you see it was a little close to the bone?

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to the bone		completely
example:-		How could you keep me waiting so long in the cold? I'm almost frozen to the bone!