English Idioms and Expressions 

Idioms: Description of Places, Things and Events-6
from:  'recipe for disaster'  to: 'state of the art'

• recipe for disaster
  • If you refer to a plan or idea as a recipe for disaster, you think it is likely to produce bad results.
    "Our two families together for Christmas? Sounds like a recipe for disaster!"
    
    
• red light district
  • An area of a town or city where there is a concentration of sex shops, prostitution, strip clubs, etc. is known as the red light district.
    "A photograph of the politician taken in a red-light districtcaused a scandal."
    
    
• right up your alley
  • If something is right up your alley, it is the sort of thing you like or have knowledge about.
    "You like cooking do you? This book will be right up your alley."
    
    
• a rip-off
  • To say that something is a rip-off means that it costs much more than it should.
    "$10 for a coffee? That's a rip-off!"
    
    
• (not) rocket science / rocket scientist
  • If you say 'it's not rocket science' or 'no need to be a rocket scientist', you stress the fact that something presents no major difficulty.
    "Bob will explain how it works. Don't worry - it's not rocket science!"
    
    
• rough and ready
  • Something which is rough and ready is adequate but rather rudimentary or unrefined.
    "The accommodation is rough and ready but the scenery is fantastic!"
    
    
• run-of-the-mill
  • If something is described as run-of-the-mill, there is nothing special or outstanding about it; it is just ordinary or average.
    "The story wasn't very interesting - just a run-of-the-mill romance with a happy ending."
    
    
• second to none
  • Something that is second to none is excellent or much better than any other.
    "The service was perfect and the food was second to none."
    
    
• seen better days
  • If something has seen better days, it has aged visibly in comparison to when it was new.
    "My much-travelled suitcase has seen better days!"
    
    
• set in stone
  • When something is set in stone, it is permanent and cannot be changed in any way.
    "The agenda isn't set in stone;  we can add an item if need be."
    
    
• (comes in) all shapes and sizes
  • Something that can be found in many different forms, types or varieties, comes in all shapes and sizes.
    "Computers come in all shapes and sizes nowadays."
    
    
• small potatoes
  • Something that is small potatoes is considered unimportant or insignificant
    "Her first publication was considered small potatoes but her new book has lead to a change of opinion."
    
    
• snail mail
  • This term refers to the standard system of mail delivery, or postal service, considered very slow compared to electronic mail.
    "More and more people are using e-mail rather than the traditional postal service, snail mail."
    
    
• (be) spot on
  • If something is spot on, it is exactly right.
    "That bag is an absolute match for my outfit! The colour is spot on!"
    
    
• stand the test of time
  • If something stands the test of time, people continue to find it valuable or useful after many years.
    "The teaching method has stood the test of time. It is still used in schools today."
    
    
• state of the art
  • If something is described as state-of-the-art, it is very modern or is the most advanced model currently available, incorporating the latest and best technology.
    "After working in such an old building for so long it will be great to move into our new state-of-the-art facility."