Compile: Idiom V

1. make a long story short = (used to) indicate that you’re providing just basic facts
and information in order to reduce the length of a story

2. neck of the woods = the area where someone comes from, or the area where you’re

3. no pain, no gain = suffering is necessary in order to achieve something

4. off the top of one’s head = from memory, without a lot of thought or consideration

5. (to be) on thin ice = on probation. if you make another mistake, there’ll be trouble

6. (to be) out of someone’s league = too good or expensive for someone to have

7. play devil’s advocate = argue the opposite, just for the sake of argument

8. rain on someone’s parade = spoil something

9. rock the boat = do or say something that could cause a problem or disturbance

10. save something for a rainy day = save something (usually money) for when you
need it

11. shed light on something = reveal information about or to clarify something

12. sit tight = refrain from taking action or changing one’s mind

13. smell a rat = begin to suspect trickery or deception

14. someone wouldn’t be caught dead (in something) = someone dislikes something
very much

15. someone’s heart is in the right place = someone only has good intentions

16. someone’s jaw drops = someone is very surprised

17. (to be) someone’s pride and joy = a person or thing that gives someone a lot of
satisfaction and happiness

18. someone’s true colors = the kind of person someone really is rather than what they
appear be

19. something rings a bell = something is familiar or that you’ve heard something
before

20. speak of the devil = said when a person appears just after being mentioned