English Idioms and Expressions 

Idioms: Description of Places, Things and Events-3
from:  'Freudian slip'  to: 'hustle and bustle'

• Freudian slip
  • A Freudian slip is a mistake made by a speaker which is considered to reveal their true thoughts or feelings.
    "So you got the job - I'm so sad ...  Sorry, I mean 'glad'!"
    
    
• gizmo
  • The term 'gizmo' refers to a gadget or any small technological item which is unusual or novel, and for which the proper term is unknown or forgotten.
    
    
• going downhill
  • When something goes downhill, it deteriorates or gets worse little by little.
    "The country's economy has been going downhill for the last five years."
    
    
• going to hell in a handcart
  • If something is going to hell in a handcart, it is in a bad state and continues to deteriorate.
    "This used to be a nice place to live but now the area is going to hell in a handcart."
    
    
• going to rack and ruin
  • If something is going to rack and ruin, it is falling into very bad condition because of lack of care.
    "When the factory closed down, the building went to rack and ruin."
    
    
• gutter press
  • The term gutter press refers to newspapers that print a lot of sensational stories about people's private lives.
    "Of course the gutter press was quick to print a sensational version of the incident!"
    
    
• hard and fast
  • Something which is hard and fast is inflexible or cannot be altered.
    "Unfortunately there are no hard and fast rules related to English spelling."
    
    
• hard to come by
  • Something that is hard to come by is rare or difficult to find.
    "Experienced carpenters are hard to come by these days."
    
    
• hard to swallow
  • When something is difficult to accept or believe, it is hard to swallow.
    "She invented an excuse that the teacher found hard to swallow."
    
    
• heart of the matter
  • The most important part or aspect of a situation is called the heart of the matter.
    "We need to get to the heart of the matter - what caused the accident?"
    
    
• here today, gone tomorrow
  • This is said of something which appears and disappears very quickly, or does not last long.
    "The shops in this area change very often - here today, gone tomorrow."
    
    
• hive of activity
  • A place where there are lots of things happening, and everyone is very busy, is called a hive of activity.
    "When I went to offer help, the kitchen was already a hive of activity."
    
    
• hollow victory
  • A victory obtained in unsatisfactory conditions, which as a result seems worthless or without significance for the winner, is called a hollow victory.
    "Won in the absence of the major ski champions, his gold medal was a hollow victory."
    
    
• 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."
    
    
• household name/word
  • When the name of something becomes very familiar because it is so often used, it is called a household name or word.
    "The product was so successful that its name became a household word in no time."
    
    
• hustle and bustle
  • The term hustle and bustle refers to busy energetic activity in an atmosphere of general excitement.
    "I prefer to live in the country. I hate the hustle and bustle of city life."