English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
Idioms: Problems and Difficulties-5
from: 'throw money'
to: 'yoke around neck'
- 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."
- If you throw money at something, you try to solve a
problem by spending money on it, without using any other methods.
- throw it over the wall
- If someone throws something over the wall, they
deal with part of a problem or project, then pass the responsibility to another
person or department without any communication or coordination.
"You can't just manufacture a product then throw it over the wall to the sales department!"
- If someone throws something over the wall, they
deal with part of a problem or project, then pass the responsibility to another
person or department without any communication or coordination.
- tide over
- If you tide someone over, you
support 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."
- If you tide someone over, you
support them through a difficult period for a certain length of time.
- 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."
- Someone who is in a tight spot is in a very difficult situation.
- 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."
- The tip of the iceberg is the part that is known
of a problem or situation which is thought to be much more serious.
- turn a corner
- When someone or something turns a corner, they start improving
after a period of difficulty or a challenging time and are no longer in danger.
"With their new line of products, the company has finally turned a corner and become successful again."
- When someone or something turns a corner, they start improving
after a period of difficulty or a challenging time and are no longer in danger.
- 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.
- 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 his agent twisting 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.
- unmitigated disaster
- An unmitigated disaster is a
complete failure or a total catastrophe.
"The organisation of the tournament was an unmitigated disaster!"
- An unmitigated disaster is a
complete failure or a total catastrophe.
- an 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."
- A person faced with an uphill battle has to struggle
against very unfavourable circumstances.
- a vicious circle
- When the solution to a problem creates another problem similar 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."
- When the solution to a problem creates another problem similar to
the original, or makes it worse, so that the process starts all over again, the situation is
called a vicious circle.
- wave a dead chicken
- When faced with a serious problem, if you do something that you know
in advance will be futile, to 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."
- When faced with a serious problem, if you do something that you know
in advance will be futile, to show that you made an effort, you wave a dead chicken.
- 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."
- When a situation gets out of control and
everything starts to go wrong, the wheels fall off.
- 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!"
- If something happens without a hitch,
it takes place exactly as planned, without any difficulties.
- can't see the wood for the trees
- If someone can't see the wood for the trees,
they are so concentrated on the details that they
can't judge the situation as a whole.
"The new manager found the situation so complicated that he couldn't see the wood for the trees."
- If someone can't see the wood for the trees,
they are so concentrated on the details that they
can't judge the situation as a whole.
- work cut out for you
- If you have to face a difficult task or a challenging situation,
you have your work cut out for you.
"I've got a month to reorganise the accounts department. I have my work cut out for me!"
- If you have to face a difficult task or a challenging situation,
you have your work cut out for you.
- a yoke around your neck
- An obligation, commitment or restraint that becomes
an oppressive burden is called a yoke around your neck.
"When John lost his job, the repayments on the house became a yoke around his neck."
- An obligation, commitment or restraint that becomes
an oppressive burden is called a yoke around your neck.
More Idioms:
Problems and Difficulties
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