Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Examples
1. Chicken and Egg situation
In this situation, it is undecided who came first and who is the cause of the other.
Example – Does knowledge comes from curiosity or curiosity causes gaining knowledge? It is a
chicken and egg situation.
2. On cloud nine
Being on cloud nine means, you’re delighted.
Example – I was very tensed before my exam, but I was on cloud nine when I finished my exam.
3. Under a cloud
Being under a cloud is when someone is under suspicion.
Example – After the information got out, he was under a cloud for a long time.
Example – What was he thinking competing g in such stage with no preparation? He must’ve
had his head in the clouds.
Example- Ram works as a clerk in his company. His work is like a small cog in a large wheel.
Example- People who cannot pay someone back in his coin will face difficulty in life.
Example- They do not get along very well with Ashok, so they left him out in the cold.
Example – You have to be very creative when giving investment pitch. Otherwise, not only the
investors will disagree, but they also will pour cold water on your idea.
Example – My manager blew hot and cold on my pitch for a few days and eventually rejected it.
Example – The economy of India has come to a head after the nationwide lockdown.
Example –Cooling your heels can not be a priority when the work is not complete.
13. Cut corners
Doing something the easiest way or take the easy way out for a problem to save time and
money.
Example- We have to let it run its course to witness the final form.
Example – If the new guy talks further, the team lead will have to cut him down to size.
Example – Many reputed brands charge in a way that it feels like daylight robbery.
Example – If you expect us to complete the task by tomorrow, that would be like boiling the
ocean for us.
19. Handle with kid gloves
It means taking care of something sensitive with extreme details and caution.
Example – I usually clear the decks before preparing for any exam.
Example – In life, there will be many situations where you have to choose between the devil and
the deep blue sea.
Example – Ram cheats in every exam but never gets caught. I think he has the luck of the devil.
Example- His appeal always seems to fall on deaf ears of the authority.
Example- If you do anything to him, I will get back to you the same way! An eye for an eye and
a tooth for a tooth.
Example – I will surely face the music for last week’s report from my boss.
Boys!
Example – Don’t give him the work! He may drag his feet before the deadline.
Example – Rajat is worth his weight in gold. He has single-handedly organized the whole event.
Example – It is against the grain to accept the crimes happening around the nation.
Example- He jumped the gun by giving the presentation without consulting with his
teammates.
Example- He stuck to his gun despite all the criticism coming from his colleagues.
Example- You are always formal, let your hair down sometimes.
Example- They worked for hand in glove to leak the company’s information outside.
Example – Do not wear your heart on the sleeve in your professional life!
Example – Rahul moved heaven and earth to get in his dream university.
Example- He is a cheap drunk usually, but yesterday he hit the bottle until the morning.
Example- I will try to get him off the hook because he is a good friend of mine.
Example- He cut no ice in the meeting, so I guess we’re losing the client.
Example- He was on thin ice with the coach after scoring duck in the final match.
Example – Strike while the iron is hot because once gone, the deal is not coming back.
Example – Ram had the last laugh in the debate competition irrespective of his early losses.
Example – The Telegraph saw the light of a day on 7th July 1982.
Example – After trying continuously to reach the client, finally I saw some light at the end of the
tunnel.
Example – If I don’t toe the line in my office, soon my replacement will come.
Example – My old television finally became non-functional after living on a borrowed line for a
long time.
Example – Hold your tongue; otherwise, you will face the consequences.
Example- “Don’t cry for the moon son!” the old man said to the boy.
Example – Mike hit the nail on the head as he correctly pointed out whose fault it was.
Example – The answers to the homework questions were under our nose all along.
Example – Don’t waste your time lecturing them. I am sure it will be like casting pearls before
swine.
Example – Sometimes, when life gets tough, one needs to pour out his/her heart to loved ones.
Example- I don’t study that much, but when push comes to shove, I can spend nights studying.
Example – Reading between the lines seems like our vacation is cancelled.
Example – Our startup has come to a point where it seems like it is on the rope.
Example – Do not rub salt into his wounds. He is already going through a lot.
Example – “Though we are the underdog here, let us give them a run for their money,” our
coach said to the team.
Example – For a long time, Lalit kept his eyes shut to the fraud that was happening around him.
Example – We have celebrated enough. Now let’s allow the dust to settle.
Example- I took the word out of my dad’s mouth before he could finish the sentence.
Example- I thought he would fail in the exam. But I had to eat my words after the results came
out.
Example- I used to always take a shot in the dark while making important decisions.
Example-Around here, his brother is the one who calls all the shots.
Example – In my school days, I was head and shoulders above my peers in sprinting.
Example – After suffering for a few days, The doctor put his dog, Rosie, to sleep to help her die
without pain.
Example – Sometimes, when life gets extremely messy, starting with a clean slate is the right
thing to do.
Example – People are saying she is dating her boss. Well, there can be no smoke without the
fire.
Example- Do not throw a spanner in my work in the last minute. I can’t redo the entire project.
Example- I am usually lazy, but when needed I can wear two hats too.
Example – The way he throws his weight around is making a negative impact on the campus.
Example – Throwing caution to the wind to win the girl over has not gone well for him.
Example – Though we decided to keep our vacation secret, someone must have spilled the
beans.
Example – Do not spread yourself too thin, dedicate your energy towards a single goal.
Example- I told him to let off some steam before the meeting.
Example – If he continues his dirty politics game with me, I will be sure to blow his cover also.
99. Go on record
It merely means the statement you will give is the final and official statement.
100. Milestones
It is used to emphasize the critical event’s in someone’s professional life.
Example – Today, I moved at a snail’s pace while returning home from school.
Example- Don’t waste your time, Jim. Do not forget your time is money.
Example – My seniors asked me to flesh out the schedule of the event to my classmates.
105. Go all out
Going all out means giving all you have to offer.
106. At odds
Being at odds means being on different terms. Normally, this phrase is used to refer to conflicts,
Example – They were great friends once, but the competition leads them to be at odds all the
time.
107. Go-getter
A person who is very energetic and wants to succeed very much is a go-getter.
Break a leg.
110. A busybody
People who always try to gather news about other’s private life.
Example – Though my grandfather is as old as the hills, still he lives very actively.
Example- Despite all the ups and downs, he achieved his success with flying colours.
Example- I am pretty sure your father will be as right as rain very soon.
Example- Due to the capitalistic movements in America, India is facing massive brain-drain in
recent times.
Example- According to him, there is no absolute right or wrong but a grey area in this case.
Example- We, human beings often tell white lies to our loved ones.
Example- After his rehab got completed, the doctor gave him a clean bill of health.
Example- When the teacher asked questions, it seemed like every student had a frog in his
throat.
Example- “What are you up to these days,” I asked John. “Buisness as usual” he replied.
Example- Rohit was the only guy in our class who thought outside the box.
Example- If the side work is done, let us get into the nitty-gritty.
Example- Do not bite more than you can chew; otherwise, everything will get messy.
Example- Completing the report within tonight doesn’t seem like a piece of cake for him.
Example- The director told us to keep him in the loop about the ongoing project.
Example- I think my dream of going to London will remain a pie in the sky.
Example- I’m getting goosebumps just by the idea of seeing the concert.
137. Give it to me straight.
It means saying something directly in a very straightforward way.
Example – Stop running around in circles, guys! We need to reform our strategy.
Example – People who can drive a hard bargain on any product are famous in sales.
Example- I made no bones about getting a new car at the end of the year.
Example – After knowing about the fraud, Anil babu closed all door on the investment firm.
Example – If you are investing in the share market, you have to be careful about not backing up
the wrong horses.
Example- I used to kill two birds with one stone by eating breakfast and completing my
homework at the same time in my school days.
Example – After promising a hattrick and not scoring any goal, he had egg on his face.
Example – A stretching session in a local physiotherapy centre cost him an arm and a leg.
156. Stab someone in the back
It means betraying someone’s trust.
Example – Stabbing a friend in the back is the worst thing a man can do.
Example – Doctor told me I need medical assistance right off the bat.
Example- Even after hearing all the instructions, Aritra stood there like he was a fish out of
water.
Example- He always stirred up a hornet’s nest when his day did not well.
Example- Everyone has had their back against the wall someday in their life.
Example- I fell head over heels for Sucheta right when I saw her for the first time.
163. Up in Arms
Up in arms means being angry for something.
Example- The employees were up in arms with the authority when they heard there would be
no increment this year.
Example- In a competitive environment, it isn’t easy to separate the chaffs from the wheats.
Example- I did not expect the witness to change his tune that fast.
Example- You’ll miss the boat if you don’t take the initiative.
Example- Raman has the habit of calling a spade a spade since childhood.
Example- Do not get influenced by the broker’s words. You might kill the goose for golden
eggs in the process.
Example- If you want to win this game, play your cards right.
Example- I was the one who drew first blood in the boxing match.
Example- He shot himself on foot by telling the broker all his details.
Example- After the meeting, he got an idea at which way the wind is blowing.
Example- Do not wash your dirty linen in public under any circumstances.
Example- The house had changed hands a few times before I bought it.
Example- Ask someone else, I have my hand’s full with different works.
Example- Sometimes, crime investigation includes twisting the arm of the criminal.
Example- He was on top of the world after knowing that he has become a father.
Example- None of them can turn the tide of the deal based on the situation they are in.
Example- “Do not try my patience boy. ” The guard angrily said to the student.
Example- They need to realize that they are not the only fish in the sea.
188. A bolt from the blue
This phrase describes a vital incident that happens surprisingly or all of a sudden.
Example- It felt like a bolt from the blue, seeing him after so many years.
Example- I tried to teach him how to bell the cat several times.
Example- The coach threw up his hands when his team lost the game.
Example- The new project has been a thorn in the flesh of the employees.
Example- Failing in the exam was a bitter pill to swallow for him.
Example- He can lie and point out other’s fault all at the same breath.
Example- I know it took me some time get myself together. But it is better late than never.
Example- “I guess I have no choice left other than going back to the drawing board. ”
Example- “Those jewelleries are pretty but they are a dime a dozen. ”
Example- “If you ask him to guide you, you’ll be barking up the wrong tree. ”
Example- “Do not worry about the failures because every cloud has a silver lining”.
Example- “How was my dancing?” “Umm, Don’t give up your day job. ”
214. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
This phrase means not putting too much energy and effort into a single thing.
Example- “No matter how skilled you are, don’t put all your eggs in one basket. ”
Example- “His condition will improve when pigs will start to fly. ”
Example- “The way he criticized his son, he surely seemed like a dutch uncle. ”
Example- Rajat used to be the king of the hill in hockey back in the days.
Example- Indian government need to get rid of the Kashmir dispute as soon as possible.
Example- I went to the new mall today. It was anything but organized.
Example- “It is the only way forward if you want to really get the job done. ”
227. Smack dab
It means exactly.
Example- The way he completed the task, he should receive a pat on the back.
Example- We were mulling over the project ideas before deciding a single one.
Example- Exercising daily with all vim and vigour results in an incredible physique.
Example- I have not done one single thing out of my bucket list.
Example- I will keep the lion’s share of the cake this time.
236. Screw up
It means making a big mistake.
237. Aftermath
This phrase means the result of something horrible.
Example- The government is helping people deal with the aftermath of the flood.
Example- The professor gave us a little pep talk before the exam.
Example – With a heavy heart, we all bid goodbye to our retiring teacher.
240. Apples to apples
This phrase is used to describe a fair comparison between two things.
Example- I can barely keep the wolf from the door based on my monthly salary.
Example- “I did not know Mr. Anuj very well. But after coming to this party all I can say is Mr.
Anuj sure has a great sense of humour. ”
250. Earworm
This word usually refers to a song that comes to the mind of a person again.
Example- “The new song of Rihana is just like an earworm. It is not getting out of my head. “
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