in a sentence:

“I’ll be at your football game, come rain or shine.”

“Come rain or shine, I'll see you on Thursday.”

in a sentence:

She made the faux pas of referring to Wales as “part of England.”

That dress is the worst fashion faux pas I’ve ever seen.

in a sentence:

Keep your chin up – I'm sure you'll find a solution to the problem.

(used humorously)

in a sentence:

When I kick the bucket you'll be able to live on my life insurance.

in a sentence:

She's so thin, yet she eats like a horse.

in a sentence:

You eat like a bird – I don't know how you stay healthy.

in a sentence:

I don't want to hear another sound out of you. Now do as you're told and zip your lip.

in a sentence:

“I might wake up early to clean my room…” 

“Yeah right, you'll do that when pigs fly.”

in a sentence:

Dad will go bananas / go nuts when he sees this.

in a sentence:

The exam was a piece of cake.

in a sentence:

A lot of kids today are overweight couch potatoes.

in a sentence:

I always get butterflies before an exam.

in a sentence:

It's up to you, but I don't think we should bother him.

I don't care what we do tonight, it's up to you.

in a sentence:

"You brought the wrong book."     

 "Okay, my bad. I'll go get it."

in a sentence:

Betty and Jennifer are as alike as two peas in a pod, so it's no wonder people sometimes mistake them for sisters.

in a sentence:

It had been a difficult week, so when the car broke down, it was the straw that broke the camel's back.

in a sentence:

I enjoy museums, it is my cup of tea.

Hiking is not my cup of tea, but my husband enjoys it.

in a sentence:

My sister lives in Alaska, so I only see her once in a blue moon.

Once in a blue moon he’d call, but for months at a time we heard nothing.

in a sentence:

Out of the blue, a deer came in front of my car.

One day, out of the blue, she announced that she was leaving.

in a sentence:

The conference used to be held every year, but now it takes place every other year.

We get together every other Saturday for lunch.

in a sentence:

I can't go out tonight. I need to hit the books.

in a sentence:

We went Dutch on dinner.

I'll go Dutch with you on the movie if you want.

in a sentence:

Okay, that’s our proposal in a nutshell. Any questions?

"What went wrong?" "In a nutshell, everything."

in a sentence:

He's a nice guy, always ready to go the extra mile for his friends.

in a sentence:

You don't need a green thumb to grow them.

My sister hasa green thumb.

24 hours a day, seven days a week: all the time

in a sentence:

We're open for business 24/7.

There’s a 24/7 gym called 24/7 Gym in York, Clifton Moor.

in a sentence:

We get most of our work through word-of-mouth recommendations.

The story has been passed down by word of mouth.

in a sentence:

Take it easy – don’t get mad.

The doctor told her she should take it easy for a while.

in a sentence:

I saw Pat and Chris walking hand in hand the other day.

Economic progress goes hand in hand with environmental responsibility.

Wealth and power gohandinhand in most societies.

in a sentence:

Let’s move out into the sun – I’m getting goose bumps.

I was six years old - it gave megoose pimples.

in a sentence:

He was so optimistic that he should have ‘when life gives you lemons’ tattooed on his forehead. 

 My grandfather lost his job due to the coronavirus, but he decided to keep busy and active. He says, ‘when life gives you lemons, make lemonade’.

in a sentence:

Who gives a monkey's what he thinks?

"Chrissie won't like it." 

"I don't give a monkey's."

in a sentence:

This child just can't sit still; he must have ants in his pants.

in a sentence:

In the kitchen, actions speak louder than words.

On this playing field, actions speak louder than words.

in a sentence:

“I can't believe you finished a triathlon!”

“You're going to sleep like a log tonight.”

Beth won't wake up, I promise - she sleeps like a log.

in a sentence:

You are great, dude. You rock.

She's such a great role model for young women – she really rocks!

in a sentence:

When I feel like I'm about to lose my temper/cool, I just leave the room.

The children behaved so badly that I lost my temper.

1. a road which is closed at one end, so that there is only one way in and out

2. an unhelpful situation in which you cannot make any more progress

in a sentence:

1. Our house is located on a quiet cul-de-sac in York.

2. This surely is an intellectual cul-de-sac.

in a sentence:

"What's the capital of Mauritania?" 

"I don't know off the top of my head, but I could go and look it up."

in a sentence:

Don't beat around the bush - get to the point!

No need to beat about the bush sweetie.

in a sentence:

We haven’t got all day, so please get to the point.

It took several paragraphs for her to come/get to the point of her argument.

in a sentence:

That kid is always quick to help the teacher with any little thing - what an apple polisher!

It is better to be honest with people than to tell them false things and be taken as an apple polisher.

I will never polish the apple for my boss, I believe in honesty and hard work.

in a sentence:

Satisfy your sweet tooth with natural sugar – fructose – from fruit and berries.

I have a sweet tooth - I can't say no to cookies.

in a sentence:

Don't stay in bed tossing and turning. If you don't fall asleep within 20 to 30 minutes, get out of bed.

I tossed and turned until I finally fell asleep at 2 a.m.

in a sentence:

I keep asking her not to park there, but it's like banging my head against a brick wall.

I feel like I've been beating my head against the wall trying to understand this math equation.

in a sentence:

Set the alarm clock – better safe than sorry!

Face masks: Better safe than sorry

in a sentence:

I can't believe you won ten games in a row!

Look, Sarah has lined up all of her dolls in a row.

in a sentence:

Finding the perfect house was easier said than done.

Achieving this, however, is easier said than done.

in a sentence:

The crew tried to blow their own trumpet but the manager did not buy their story.

I hate to blow my own trumpet, but I think I did pretty well there.

in a sentence:

Please come to our party—and your better half is invited, too!

“Allow me to introduce you to my better half, Joan”

in a sentence:

Don't worry about those thugs, buddy. I've got your back if they ever come bother you again.

You can always rely on your parents to have your back.

in a sentence:

It appears that a game of good cop, bad cop is going on here in the Senate.

Many parents take on the roles of “good cop” and “bad cop” in the family. For instance, Dad is the kid's best buddy, and mom is the strict parent.

in sentence:

The three-course menu is good value for money.

What? £2.00 for a sirloin steak? What a good value!

in a sentence:

Since Frank wanted his son to be his namesake, he gave him his first name.

The college’s new library is the namesake of the billionaire who funded the building’s development.

in a sentence:

It's no use crying over spilled milk - he's spent all the money, and there's nothing you can do about it.

Here we are crying over spilled milk when we should be thinking about the future.

in a sentence:

When she returned, she caught some builders red-handed.

A spy camera was set up - and caught the crook red-handed.

in a sentence:

I know she's a little frumpy, but you can't tell a book by its cover, man!

I thought this no-brand bread would be horrible; turns out you can't judge a book by its cover.

in a sentence:

This retro track has an earworm of a chorus.

The catchy earworm is one of the most successful tracks of all time.

in a sentence:

This money will come in handy when we go on holiday.

“I know you don’t think you need to bring a heavy coat with you but trust me, it will come in handy where you’re going.”

in a sentence:

"He's driving me crazy with his stupid jokes." "Tell me about it!"

“I’ve been so tired lately.” “Yeah, tell me about it!”

in a sentence:

My life is incredibly boring, but today took the biscuit: absolutely nothing happened.

I’ve heard some excuses, but this really takes the biscuit!

in a sentence:

Now, it goes without saying that America knows a thing or two about filling the intervals in football matches.

I need to get a thing or two at the shop.

in a sentence:

Hello! Wow! Long time no see!

"Dave! Long time no see! How's Boston been treating you?"

in a sentence:

"I went out to the car to find I have two flat tyres. Just another Tuesday."

It was just another day at school:  the teachers were boring and the students didn’t listen.

in a sentence:

It's really none of his business what I do with the money I earn.

* ‘Who were you with last night?’ ‘Mind your own business.’

in a sentence:

It takes time to learn the nuts and bolts of a new job.

Social skills are the nuts and bolts of social interaction.

in a sentence:

He was complaining about his nosy co-worker.

We have become nosy tourists in our own neighbourhoods.

in a sentence:

A: "It feels so strange and foreign to be living in a new house." 

  B: "Well, it does take time to make a house a home, you know."

in a sentence:

I'm moving a little slower these days, so please bear with me.

Bear with me while I try to fix the coffee machine.

in a sentence:

If a random, attractive person starts talking to you online, you are very likely being catfished.

Online scammers and catfish usually have broad profile interests so that they can appeal to as many people as possible.

in a sentence:

Losing that job was a blessing in disguise really.

Franklin's illness proved a blessing in disguise, for it gave him strength and courage which he had not had before.

in a sentence:

I had to do this to save face for my father.

As a result of the turmoil, Frank resigned in order to save face.

in a sentence:

My mother does beautiful calligraphy, but I'm all thumbs — I can barely hold the pen!

Some of the students in the pottery class were all thumbs, but they enjoyed themselves anyway.

in a sentence:

Farming is no bed of roses.

The corrupt leaders have made their life a bed of roses with the help of black money.

in a sentence:

He's been walking around with a long face ever since he failed the examination.

The match is off and my husband has a long face.

in a sentence:

A: "Dan finally paid me the money he owed me."

 B: "Well, better late than never."

We only arrived at the game at halftime but better late than never.

in a sentence:

She may want to argue, but it takes two to tango and I won't stoop to her level.

They should arrest the dodgy agent as well as the manager. After all it takes two to tango.

in a sentence:

My coach always said, "Basketball is not rocket science. It's about putting the ball in the basket."

It really is not rocket science, but it takes patience and calm.

in a sentence:

Most little kids crave attention.

If the craving is specifically for cake than it may be because of a lack of Zinc in the diet.

Certain drugs can help reduce the craving for alcohol.

in a sentence:

A: "What's he doing?"   B: "Your guess is as good as mine."

A: "What's her problem?" B: "I have no idea. Your guess is as good as mine."

in a sentence:

A: ‘How's the job going?’   

B: ‘So far so good.’

A: "How's the work on your house going?"

B: "There's a lot more to do, but so far, so good."

in a sentence:

It was the end of term and the children were getting a little out of hand.

The demonstration was getting out of hand.

in a sentence:

He really shot himself in the foot, telling the interviewer all about the others who were applying for the job he wanted.

If he keeps talking, pretty soon he’ll shoot himself in the foot.

in a sentence:

He laughed at her and then, to make matters worse, he accused her of lying!

"We were already late for the meeting, and to make matters worse, the car wouldn't start". 

in a sentence:

"That's exactly what I was thinking – you hit the nail on the head!" 

"You really hit the nail on the head by suggesting we need more teamwork," said the team leader.

in a sentence:

I blew my nose and tried to pull myself together.

After the shocking news, she took a deep breath and tried to pull herself together.

in a sentence:

Did you hear what happened to Anna yesterday - oh, speak of the devil; here she is.

"Well, speak of the devil! We were just talking about you!"

in a sentence:

Tell me about your first day at the new job - I'm all ears!

"If you want to share your concerns, I'm all ears." 

in a sentence:

Her words were music to my ears.

When she said they would make a profit, it was music to Richard’s ears.

in a sentence:

I was trying to keep the party a secret, but Mel went and let the cat out of the bag.

Now that Viola had let the cat out of the bag, she had no option but to confess.

in a sentence:

I'm having a bad hair day.

The look somehow fixes any bad hair day and makes every outfit a little more pulled together.

in a sentence:

Seat covers on buses take a lot of wear and tear.

Most tires will last for four years with normalwear and tear.

in a sentence:

Losing to a younger player was a bitter pill to swallow.

They've lost an estimated 2.5 million, a bitter pill to swallow.

in a sentence:

I wanted to tell him exactly what I thought of him, but I had to bite my tongue.

I wanted to tell him he looked ridiculous, but I bit my tongue.

in a sentence:

Getting compliments at work always makes my day!

She said ' thank you' and that made my day.

in a sentence:

If you spend all your time sweating the small stuff, you're never going to get any meaningful work done.

Don't sweat the small stuff; the project will get done, even if it's not perfect.

in a sentence:

The government needs to get its ducks in a row.

Too bad you didn't have your ducks in a row before you quit your job.

in a sentence:

Keep an eye on your brother while I’m out, please.

Please keep an eye on the oven; I don't want the cookies to burn".

in a sentence:

I know her - her name is on the tip of my tongue, but it won't come to me.

Oh, what was that movie called? It's on the tip of my tongue.

in a sentence:

She nailed her audition and got the lead part in the musical.

Wow, you really nailed that debate last night!

in a sentence:

Dan: "I'm thinking of asking Jane out on a date, but what if she says no?"    

Mike: "Just go for it, dude! You'll never know unless you ask!"

It sounds like a good idea—go for it!

in a sentence:

She took the opportunity to study abroad when it was offered.

“I’d like to take the opportunity to thank all the people who have supported me over the years, particularly Collingwood fans.”

in a sentence:

She was so overwhelmed by the news that she burst into tears.

The comedian was so funny that we all burst into uncontrollable laughter.

in a sentence:

A: “I filled out applications in my car.”

B: “The early bird gets the worm, right?”

in a sentence:

I want a new car that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

Renting a flat in London is nice, but it costs an arm and a leg.

in a sentence:

Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll end up in the stars!

You might as well shoot for the moon and ask for a promotion as well as a pay rise.

in a sentence:

I always thought that rugby was a rougher game than football, but in fact it’s the other way round.

I thought I was teaching you, but it’s actually the other way round!

in a sentence:

Honey, can you go upstairs and check on the kids?

When someone new joins the team, I like to check in onthem at least once a day.

in a sentence:

We sat up talking until the early hours.

Police were called to the scene in the early hours of Sunday.

in a sentence:

Stop shouting! Take a chill pill!

I know you're worried about the meeting, but take a chill pill; you'll do great.

in a sentence:

That rubbish goes in one ear and out the other.

I don’t know why I tell her anything. It just goesin one ear and out the other.

in a sentence:

I used to see him every now and then.

We still get together for lunch every now and then.

in a sentence:

* I can’t come tonight, I’m feeling a bit under the weather.

* She called in sick yesterday because she was feeling under the weather.

in a sentence:

To beat the heat, try staying in the shade and drinking plenty of water.

Ice cream certainly ranks as one of our favorite ways to beat the heat.