Idioms

the default, well-supported, happy-path way of using a system, opposed to exotic configurations

used to express relief that an unwanted person or thing has gone

a movement started and driven by ordinary people rather than leaders or organizations

using creative, low-cost, data-driven experiments to grow a user base rapidly

to carry lasting resentment and be easily offended because you feel you were treated unfairly

To be involved in too many activities at once.

trying to coordinate or control a group of highly independent people

keep your abilities or achievements from being noticed

to be in a position of complete control in a negotiation

successfully completed or achieved, with the main risks safely past

deliberately and without compassion, especially when committing violence or cruelty

after weighing all the relevant facts; ultimately

expected to happen or become available soon

doing the difficult, unglamorous, hands-on work at the front line of a problem or project

the problems or confusion will eventually be resolved

used to say emphatically that a particular event will never happen

the result is effectively decided although the event has not formally ended

to maneuver competitively in order to gain the most advantageous position

the ordinary, average member of the public

to reach the point of absurd decline, past which a product or franchise loses credibility

remain outwardly brave and composed during difficulty

maintain the home and its familiar routines while someone is away

to work hard and steadily without distraction

to destroy a reliable source of future profit through greed or short-term thinking

mouth-to-mouth resuscitation given to revive someone who is not breathing

the only survivor of a fight, consolidation, or market shakeout

to be completely honest about your intentions or position

behave freely without hiding your feelings or worrying about restraint

To say or do something that causes sudden trouble or excitement.

accept whatever consequences follow from an action

to cohabit romantically without having married

old or growing old, especially when age affects suitability for something

the gradual expansion of a project's goals beyond its original scope

a durable competitive advantage that protects a business from rivals

something that grants what you asked for while exacting a terrible, unforeseen price; a wish fulfilled in the worst possible way

a question that is debatable or no longer relevant because it has been settled or made irrelevant

a philosophy of shipping quickly and accepting breakage in order to learn faster

a great deal of fuss about something unimportant

used informally to ask which drink someone wants

unfair, dishonorable, or contrary to accepted standards of behavior

to speak directly and honestly, even if it is unpleasant

used before saying something directly and bluntly

anxiously waiting in suspense because the outcome is uncertain

continually busy or active, with no real break

used to describe saying something tactless or embarrassing

misaligned, unsettled, or operating abnormally

To escape one bad situation only to land in a worse one.

a fundamental change in the assumptions, models, or approach of a field

to be judged good enough after an examination or review

to deal with the price or consequences created by your earlier choices

to endure hard, unglamorous work early on as the price of later success

an informal ranking that determines status and authority within a group

being careful with small amounts of money while wasting large amounts

a rare combination of bad circumstances that produces a disaster

used as an emphatic rejection of an idea considered intolerable

to negotiate or compete aggressively, without compromise

a defensive tactic a company uses to make a hostile takeover unattractive

to make the maximum possible effort, holding nothing back

to risk criticism by stating an opinion publicly

to bring something, especially a plan or hope, to a definite end

to remind someone of a particular person, place, or experience

used defiantly to tell someone to accept an unwelcome fact or decision

to attack harshly, especially when the target is already vulnerable or beaten

prove a claim through action or stop making it

a competitive spiral that drives prices, quality, or standards lower and lower

the most important reason for something or someone's existence

the ordinary members of an organization rather than its leaders

a misleading clue or distraction that draws attention away from the real issue

a crowded, hyper-competitive market where rivals fight over existing demand

to impose your will harshly while ignoring other people's rights or feelings

to pay one debt by creating another

basic and unpolished but practical enough to do the job

an arrangement in which everyone takes a turn or competes against everyone else; or a letter sent to many people

to debug or solve a problem by explaining it line by line, out loud, to an inanimate object such as a rubber duck

to behave wildly and without restraint, causing disorder or damage

present an idea tentatively to find out who supports it

to cover the entire range of possible types, reactions, or conditions

to endure a succession of ordeals, attacks, or severe criticism

ordinary, average, unremarkable

something protected from criticism or change, often irrationally

very little attention or consideration, usually given dismissively

a seductive attraction that draws someone toward danger or an unwise action

personal risk or investment in a venture, aligning your interests with its outcome

a large, powerful player that has not yet fully engaged in a market

clever and subtle trickery used to mislead people

a deceptive or illusory presentation that hides what is really going on

disparaging something desirable after failing to obtain it

to introduce ideas that may grow and develop in people's minds later

to try to do so many things that you do none of them well

to try to resolve a problem widely regarded as extremely difficult or impossible

to take attention away from someone's achievement by doing or announcing the same thing first

a weak, exaggerated version of an opponent's argument set up to be easily knocked down

much further advanced or clearly superior to the competition

being exposed as unprepared or over-leveraged once market conditions turn

a situation where advantages and disadvantages balance out (British)

the last person or thing in a group or sequence (British, informal)