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| Achilles' heel |
This expression refers to a vulnerable area or weak spot in an otherwise strong situation that could cause one's downfall or failure. "He's extremely intelligent, but his inability to speak in public is his Achilles' heel." |
| Set (the)
alarm bells ringing/ alarm bells start to ring |
If something sets the alarm bells ringing,
it makes you begin to worry because it shows that there may be a problem. "Alarm bells started to ring when my old neighbour didn't open his shutters all day and didn't answer the phone." |
| Asking for trouble |
Someone who is asking for trouble is behaving stupidly and is
likely to have problems. "Driving fast on these roads is really asking for trouble!" |
| Have your back to the wall |
If you have your back to the wall, you
are in serious difficulty. "With his back to the wall, the supplier had to accept the deal." |
| Ball and chain |
This term refers to a burden or problem that ties you down and
prevents you from doing what you want. It can also refer to one's spouse. "Our holiday home has became a ball and chain - it's too much work!" |
| Bane of one's life | To say that something is the bane of your life means that it is the cause of your problems or your unhappiness. "The heating system is always breaking down. It's the bane of my life!" |
| Break the back of the beast |
If someone breaks the back of the beast, they succeed in
overcoming a major difficulty. "After hours of effort, the technicians finally broke the back of the beast and turned the electricity back on again." |
| Bite off more than you can chew |
If you
bite off more than you can chew, you try
to do something that is too difficult for you, or more than you can manage. "As soon as I started to translate the report, I realized that I had bitten off more than I could chew." |
| On the blink |
If a machine is on the blink, it is not working properly
and needs servicing or repair. "What a nuisance! The photocopier is on the blink again." |
| Can of worms | To describe a situation as
a can of worms means that it is
complicated, unpleasant and difficult to deal with. "The discovery of the transfer of funds turned out to be a real can of worms." |
| Can't for the life of me |
This expression can be used to say that it is impossible for you
to do something, no matter how hard you try. "I can't for the life of me remember the title of the book." |
| Carry the can (for someone else) |
If you carry the can for another person, you accept
blame or take responsibility for something that goes wrong, even if it is not your fault or only partly. "The author didn't turn up for the interview and his agent had to carry the can." |
| Catch-as-catch-can |
This expression means that you try to get something in any way possible "It's difficult to get much sleep with the new baby - it's catch-as-catch-can these days!" |
| Catch 22 |
A catch 22 situation refers to a frustrating situation
where you cannot do one thing without doing a second, and you cannot do the second before doing the first. "I can't get a job without a work permit, and I can't get a work permit without a job. It's a catch 22 situation!" |
| Chill wind of something | If you face or feel the chill wind of
something, you are beginning to encounter the problems or trouble it causes. "Many building companies are facing the chill wind of the recession." |
| Clear the way |
If you clear the way, you allow something to happen by removing what was preventing it. "Opening universities to women cleared the way for them to have a career and participate actively in today's society." |
| Cloud on the horizon |
A problem or difficulty that is predictable, or seems likely to
arise in the future, is called a cloud on the horizon. "They are happily married and for the moment there appear to be no clouds on the horizon." |
| Come to head |
If a problem or difficult situation comes to a head, it reaches a
point where action has to be taken. "The problem came to a head yesterday when rioting broke out in the streets." |
| Come out in the wash |
This expression is used to tell someone not to worry about a mistake or problem because it won't have any serious effect and everything will work out all right. "Yes, he was furious when it happened - but don't worry - it'll all come out in the wash." |
| Cross to bear |
A person who has a cross to bear has a serious problem or heavy responsibility that they must accept because they cannot change it. "Alzheimer's is a cross to bear for the whole family." |
| Cross that bridge when we get to it |
This is another way of saying "we will deal with that problem when it occurs and not worry about it before". "What will happen if we can't repay the loan?" "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it." |
| Crux of the matter |
The main point or the most vital element of a discussion or
argument is called the crux of the matter. "The crux of the matter is that he's too old to live alone in that big house." |
| Dig one's own grave |
A person who digs their own grave does something which causes their own downfall. "If you drop out of college now, with such high unemployment, you'll be digging your own grave!" |
| Do someone's dirty work. |
To do someone's dirty work means to do the unpleasant or difficult work that the other person does not want to do. "His assistant does all the dirty work for him and he gets all the credit." |
| Dodge a bullet |
If you dodge a bullet, you narrowly avoid a very serious
problem or a disaster. "I dodged a bullet when I missed the plane. It crashed just after take-off." |
| Elephant in the room |
A problem that no one wants to discuss, but is so obvious that it cannot be ignored, is called an elephant in the room. "Let's face it - his work is unsatisfactory. That's the elephant in the room that we need to discuss." |
| The fat hits the fire/ the fat's in the fire |
When trouble breaks out or a situation deteriorates as a result of something said or done , it is said that the fat hits the fire. "The situation was already tense, but the fat hit the fire when Larry was accused of cheating." |
| Fine tuning | Small changes to something to improve it or make it work better are called fine tuning. "We are still fine tuning our new website and appreciate your patience." |
| Get to the bottom of something | If you get to the bottom of a problem or mystery, you solve
it by finding out the true cause of it. "We have a problem of goods disappearing during transport. Hopefully the investigation will get to the bottom of it." |
| Go haywire | If something goes haywire, it becomes disorganized or goes out of
control. "The photocopier has gone completely haywire. It's only printing half of each page!" |
| Go pear-shaped |
If plan or project goes pear-shaped, it either goes wrong or it
produces an undesirable result. "Jane organized a treasure hunt in the park for the kids but it all went pear-shaped and everyone was disappointed.." |
| Go/put through the mill |
If you go (or are put) through the mill, you experience a very
difficult period, or are exposed to rough treatment. "When I was an intern, I was put through the mill. Nothing went unnoticed." |
| When the going gets tough ... |
This expression means that when faced with a difficult or dangerous situation, strong people take action in order to solve the problem. "Tom has a positive attitude. He often says "when the going gets tough, the tough get going". |
| Gone with the wind |
If something has gone with the wind, it has disappeared forever. "I lost everything during the crisis. My savings are gone with the wind!" |
| Grasp (or clutch) at straws |
If you are in a desperate situation and you grasp or clutch at straws,
you try any method, even if it has little chance of success, in an attempt to find a solution. "In his search for a cure, he turned to a faith healer, knowing that he was grasping at straws." |
| Hang (someone) out to dry |
When you abandon someone who is in difficulty,
without giving any assistance or support, you hang them out to dry. "You'll get no help from Jack. He'll hang you out to dry if your plan fails." |
| Come hell or high water | To
say that you will do do something come hell or high water means
that you will do it in spite of difficulties involved. "Come hell or high water, I've got to be on time for the interview." |
| High and dry | If you are left high and dry, you find yourself in a
difficult situation without help or resources "When her husband walked out on her, Amanda was left high and dry with two kids to raise." |
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you shouldn't change it. "We're not changing our alarm system. As the saying goes: if it ain't broke, don't fix it!" |
| In dire straits |
If a person or organization is in dire straits, they are in a
very difficult situation. "The loss of major contracts has put the company in dire straits." |
| In the lurch | If you leave someone in the lurch, you
leave them in a difficult or embarrassing situation. "When Paul missed the last bus, he was left in the lurch." |
| In a quandary | If you are in a quandary about something, you find it difficult
to decide what to do. "The job they offer is less interesting but the salary is better. I'm in a quandary about what to do." |
| In over your head | If you are in over your head, you are involved in something that
is too difficult for you to handle. "I accepted to organize the festival, but I quickly realized that I was in over my head." |
| Juggle frogs | A person who is juggling frogs is trying to deal with many
different tasks at the same time and finding the situation difficult. "I've got so many things to do at the moment, I feel like I'm juggling frogs." |
| Last thing on one's mind | If you say that something is the last thing on your mind,
you mean that it is not an important matter at all, especially when you have more serious problems to consider. "I'm so busy that food is the last thing on my mind." |
| Last resort | If you say that you would do something as a last resort, it is
the last thing you would do if you were desperate and all other courses of action had failed. "I still haven't found a hotel for tonight; I can always sleep in the car as a last resort!" |
| Left
hanging in the air (or in mid-air) |
If a problem or issue is left hanging in the air, no decision has been taken so it remains without a solution. "No solution was proposed during the meeting so the question was left hanging in the air." |
| Let sleeping dogs lie. | If you
tell somebody to let sleeping dogs lie, you are asking them not to interfere with a situation because they could cause problems. |
| Light at the end of the tunnel | If you see light at the end of the tunnel, you see signs of hope
for the future after a long period of difficulty. "Sales dropped heavily last year but we're beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel." |
| Like it or lump it! | If you tell someone to like it or lump it, you mean that they
will have to accept something even if they don't like it, because the situation is not going to change. "We're spending a week this summer with your grandparents - like it or lump it!" |
| Like pulling teeth | Something that is like pulling teeth is extremely difficult to obtain, especially if trying to extract information from someone. "Getting him to talk about his job was like pulling teeth!" |
| A millstone around your neck | Something described as a millstone around your neck refers to
a problem or responsibility that becomes a burden and a source of worry. " The money he borrowed became a millstone around his neck" |
| To be murder |
To say that something is murder means that it is very difficult
or uncomfortable The journey home through the storm was absolute murder. |
| Needs must (when the devil drives) |
This expression means that you are sometimes forced by circumstances to do something that you do not want to do. "I'd rather stay with you than attend the conference, but needs must...!" |
| A needle in a haystack | To refer to something as a needle in a haystack means that
it is very difficult or impossible to find. "Finding a pub in Dublin without knowing its name is like looking for a needle in a haystack!" |
| There are no two ways about it |
To say that there are no two ways about it means that there is
only one suitable way of dealing with something. "There's no two ways about it. You can't accept the money, so you must give it back." |
| One's number is up |
To say that
one's number is up means that a person is either in serious difficulty and something bad is going to happen, or the time has come when they will die. "The police have located the escaped prisoner so it looks as if his number is up!" |
| Out of whack |
If something is out of whack, it is not working properly
or not in good order. "The dishwasher is making a funny noise. Something must be out of whack." |
| Ostrich strategy/politics |
This term refers to the phenomenon of ignoring or evading an obvious problem in the hope that it will resolve itself or disappear. "Adopting an ostrich strategy will only make matters worse - we've got to find a solution!" |
| Other side of the coin |
When you want to mention a different or contradictory aspect of a
situation, you refer to the other side of the coin. "The house is lovely and spacious, but the other side of the coin is that it is far from shops and schools." |
| Paper over the cracks | To say that someone is papering over the cracks means that they
are concealing a problem rather than dealing with it effectively. "The measures taken to reduce unemployment are just paper over the cracks." |
| See (or put) things in their right perspective |
When people see or put things in their right perspective,
they see the relative importance of each element of a situation, without exaggerating any aspect. "If Tom could see things in their right perspective, the situation would be less stressful for him." |
| 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 - I'm in a real pickle!" |
| Pocket of resistance |
This term refers to a small group of people who resist change or
disagree with a proposal. "The new boss wants to introduce job-sharing, but there's a pocket of resistance in the sales department." |
| (no) quick fix | To say that there is no quick fix to a problem means that there
is no simple solution. "There is no quick fix for unemployment; major reforms are necessary." |
| Old dog for a hard road | This expression means that experience is invaluable when one is faced with a difficult task. "The case calls for an experienced lawyer, an old dog for a hard road." |
| Out of sync |
If two movements or actions are out of sync, they are
uncoordinated and are not taking place at the same time or at the same speed. "The traffic lights are out of sync and causing a lot of confusion." |
| Pass the buck |
If you say that someone is passing the buck, you are accusing
them of not taking responsibility for a problem and letting others deal with it instead. "Whenever a customer comes to complain, she always finds a way of looking busy. Talk about passing the buck!" |
| Pillar to post |
If a person, usually someone in difficulty, goes from pillar
to post, they move constantly from place to place. "When the factory closed down, Billy moved from pillar to post in search of a new job." |
| Pour cold water on something |
If you pour cold water on someone's plans, opinions or ideas, you discourage them by showing little enthusiasm or expressing your misgivings. "The committee threw cold water on the idea of accepting new members." |
| Pull the plug (on something) |
If you pull the plug on something, you put an end to it or
provide no more support for it. "There were so few enrolments that the school decided to pull the plug on the yoga class. |
| Put on a brave face | When
confronted with difficulties, if you put on a brave face, you
try to look cheerful and pretend that the situation is not as bad as it is. "Even at the worst of times she put on a brave face." |
| Saved by the bell |
If you are saved by the bell, something happens at the last minute to rescue you from a difficult situation. "Saved by the bell! A friend arrived just when I realized I had no money for the parking metre!" |
| Put a spanner in the works |
To put a spanner in the works means
to cause problems and prevent something from happening as planned. (In the US, the word 'wrench' or 'monkey wrench' is used instead of 'spanner') |
| Scrape the bottom of the barrel | If you scrape the bottom of the barrel, you use the worst
or the least satisfactory ideas, things or people because you have no choice. "When they started to recruit, they had to scrape the bottom of the barrel because the best people had already found jobs elsewhere." |
| Scratch the surface |
When you only scratch the surface of a problem or subject, you deal with only a small part of it. "Some countries are only scratching the surface of their environment problems." |
| Where the shoe pinches |
When people talk about 'where the shoe pinches', they are
referring to an area that is often the source of problems or difficulties. "She thinks the public transport system works perfectly, but she'll soon find out where the shoe pinches!" |
| Sign your own death warrant |
If you do something that causes your own downfall, or prevents you
from being successful, you sign your own death warrant. "When he decided to drop out of college, he signed his own death warrant." |
| Smooth the path/way | Someone or something that smoothes the path
for something, makes progress easier or enables it to happen. "Speaking the language smoothed the path for negotiations." |
| Spiral out of control |
When difficulties or costs spiral out of control, they get worse or increase continuously, creating a situation that becomes difficult to manage. "Some items were expensive but we were careful not to let the costs spiral out of control." |
| Stew in your own juice |
If you let somebody stew in their own juice, you leave them to worry about the consequences of their own actions. "Jack spent last night in prison for starting a fight - let him just stew in his own juice!" |
| On a sticky wicket | If you find yourself on a sticky wicket, you are in a situation
that is difficult to deal with. "They've refused to sign the contract so we're on a sticky wicket now!" |
| Stir up a hornet's nest |
If you stir up a hornet's nest, you do something which causes a
commotion and provokes criticism and anger. "His letter to the Board stirred up a real hornet's nest." |
| Stop the rot |
When you prevent a situation from deteriorating, especially in politics or business, you stop the rot. "There was so much conflict in the office that a new manager was appointed to stop the rot." |
| Stumbling block |
This term refers to a problem or obstacle which prevents you from achieving something. "My father adapted quite well but the language was always a stumbling block for my mother." |
| Take the bull by the horns |
To take the bull by the horns means
that a person decides to act decisively in order to deal with a difficult situation or problem. |
| Take the easy way out |
If you take the easy way out,
you choose the easiest way to deal with a difficult situation, even if it's not the best solution. "The weather conditions were so bad that Mary took the easy way out and cancelled her appointment." |
| Take your mind off (something) |
If an activity takes your mind off something that you are
worrying about, it helps you to stop thinking about it for a while. "Sarah was worried about the result of the test so Tom took her to the cinema to take her mind off it." |
| Take the rough with the smooth |
If you take the rough with the smooth, you accept what is
unpleasant or difficult as well as what is pleasant or easy. "Life isn't always easy; you have to learn to take the rough with the smooth." |
| Tar baby |
This term refers to a sticky situation or problem for which it is
virtually impossible to find a solution. He was advised not to get involved in the controversy which was considered a 'tar-baby' issue. |
| Teething problems |
The difficulties encountered during the initial stages of an activity or project are called teething problems. We had some teething problems when we first opened the bookshop, but now everything is OK. |
| A thorny issue | If you are faced with a thorny issue, you have to deal with a
difficult or unpleasant problem. "Copyright and content duplication are thorny issues these days." |
| Throw money at something | If you throw money at something, you try to solve a problem by
spending money on it, without using any other methods. "The refugee problem cannot be solved just by throwing money at it." |
| Tide (someone) over |
If you tide someone over, you support or sustain them through a difficult period for a certain length of time. "With this weather it's impossible to get to the shops, but we have enough food to tide us over until next week." |
| Tight spot |
Someone who is in a tight spot is in a very difficult
situation. "The recent strike has put the airline company in a tight spot." |
| Tip of the iceberg |
The tip of the iceberg is the part that is known of a
problem or situation which is thought to be much more serious. "Journalists say that the report on corruption only examines the tip of the iceberg." |
| Trilemma |
This term is used for a situation which is even more difficult
than a dilemma, because a choice must be made between three options that seem equally undesirable |
| Twist in the wind |
If someone is left to twist in the wind, they are left to face a difficult situation without any assistance or support. "He walked out of the press conference and left the public relations officer to twist in the wind." |
| Unmitigated disaster | To refer to something as an unmitigated disaster means that
it is a total catastrophe or a complete failure. "The organization of the tournament was an unmitigated disaster." |
| Uphill battle | A person faced with an uphill battle has to struggle against
very unfavourable circumstances. "After the terrible accident, his recovery was an uphill battle all the way." |
| Upset the applecart | To upset (or to overturn) the
applecart means to spoil a satisfactory plan or situation "I hope Julie doesn't attend the meeting - she could upset the applecart!" |
| Vicious circle |
When the solution to a problem creates a similar problem to the original, or makes it worse, so that the process starts all over again, the situation is called a vicious circle. "I borrowed money to reimburse Paul. Now I've got to reimburse the bank, with interest. It's a vicious circle." |
| Wave a dead chicken |
When faced with a serious problem, if you take steps that you know in advance will be futile, but will show that you made an effort, you wave a dead chicken. "The TV set was permanently damaged, but the technician decided to wave a dead chicken to satisfy the old lady before announcing the bad news." |
| The wheels fall off |
When a situation gets out of control
and everything starts to go wrong, the wheels fall off. "The wheels fell off her career when she started taking drugs and cancelling concerts." |
| Without a hitch |
If something happens without a hitch, it takes place exactly as
planned, without any difficulties. "The ceremony went off without a hitch, to our great relief!" |
| Vote with one's feet | If you vote with your feet, you show your dislike or disapproval
of something by leaving. "If the conference is boring, people will probably vote with their feet." |
| Have your work cut out |
If you have to face a difficult task or deal with a challenging
situation, you have your work cut out for you. "I've got a month to reorganize the accounts department. I have my work cut out for me!" |
| Yoke around one's neck |
An obligation, commitment or restraint that becomes an oppressive burden is called a yoke around one's neck. "When John lost his job, the repayments on the house became a yoke around his neck." |
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