English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions 

FOOD and DRINK, page 5

from:  'go nuts'   to:  'a hot potato'

• go nuts
  • To say that a person has gone nuts means that they have become completely foolish, eccentric or mad.
    "I think the old lady has gone nuts! It's very hot today and she's wearing a fur coat!"
    
    
• olive branch
  • If a person or organisation holds out an olive branch to another, they show that they want to end a disagreement and make peace.
    "The protesters finally accepted the olive branch extended to them."
    
    
• can't make an omelette without breaking eggs
  • This expression means that it is impossible to make important changes without causing some damage or unpleasant effects during the process.
    "Some people will lose their jobs after the merger, but you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs."
    
    
• know your onions
  • A person who knows their onions is very knowledgable about a particular subject.
    "If you need more information on the subject, Sam is the best person to ask. He really knows his onions!"
    
    
• peel the onion
  • When you peel the onion, you investigate something step by step or layer by layer.
    "When he started peeling the onion, the investigator made discoveries that lead him to the proof he needed.
    
    
• paid peanuts
  • If you are paid peanuts, you have a very low salary.
    "Jenny has a very interesting job, but she's paid peanuts."
    
    
• go pear-shaped
  • If a plan or project goes pear-shaped, it either goes wrong or it produces an undesirable result.
    "Jane organised a treasure hunt in the park for the kids but it all went pear-shaped because of the rain."
    
    
• like two peas in a pod
  • To say that two people are like two peas in a pod means that they are very similar in appearance.
    "It wasn't difficult to identify the brothers - they were like two peas in a pod."
    
    
• in a pickle
  • If you are in a pickle, you are in a difficult situation and need help.
    "My car won't start and the trains are on strike today, so I'm in a real pickle!"
    
    
• pie in the sky
  • If an idea or project is pie in the sky, it is completely unrealistic or unlikely to be achieved.
    "The promise of low-cost housing for everyone turned out to be pie in the sky."
    
    
• (as) easy as pie
  • If something is easy as pie, it is very easy to do.
    "How did the English test go?" "No problem - it was easy as pie."
    
    
• eat humble pie
  • If you eat humble pie, you are forced to admit that you were wrong and make an apology.
    "After openly finding fault with Bill's work, Fred had to eat humble pie when Bill was elected 'salesman of the year'."
    
    
• pie-eyed
  • Someone who is pie-eyed is completely drunk.
    "He had never taken an alcoholic drink so after one beer the boy was pie-eyed."
    
    
• piece of cake
  • To refer to something as a piece of cake means that you consider it to be very easy.
    "The English test was a piece of cake!"
    
    
• (take something) with a pinch of salt
  • If you are told to take something with a grain of salt, you are being warned that the information may not be completely true, accurate or reliable.
    "What you read in that newspaper should be taken with a pinch of salt! "
    
    
• (a) plum job
  • A desirable position which is well-paid and considered relatively easy is called a plum job.
    "Ideally he'd like to find himself a plum job in New York."
    
    
• (a) plum in your mouth
  • Someone who speaks with an upper-class accent is said to have a plum in their mouth.
    "He speaks just like an aristocrat - with a plum in his mouth!"
    
    
• couch potato
  • If you refer to someone as a couch potato, you criticize them for spending a lot of time sitting and watching television.
    "Don't be such a couch potato. There are better ways of spending your time than in front of the TV."
    
    
• (a) hot potato
  • A hot potato is a very sensitive and controversial matter which is difficult to deal with.
    "The new Prime Minister hasn't been confronted with any hot potatoes yet."