Idioms

to pause and reconsider a situation (step back), or develop an idea or action beyond its current point (step further)

unfavorable reporting or reputation in the media or among people

a subject that causes disagreement or argument between people

A clumsy person who causes damage or upset in a delicate situation.

an extremely serious or urgent matter

a guess or attempt with very little chance of success

affecting everyone or everything equally

To make a bad situation or an argument worse.

make an already bad situation worse by adding humiliation or further harm

to stay better prepared than others by anticipating future needs

a task treated as routine because it belongs to someone's normal duties

requiring complete success or acceptance, with no partial alternative

everything is ready for an activity to begin

similar to; roughly in the style or manner of

equipped with a very large number of weapons and ready for conflict

By a fortunate coincidence, often introducing an unexpectedly helpful event.

unable to express yourself because an emotional or confusing moment leaves you speechless

so seriously ill or injured that death seems close

a thought or worry that you are vaguely aware of but not focusing on

immediately and with no hesitation when an opportunity or prompt appears

to return to the beginning of a task after an attempt has failed

to start planning or designing again after an idea or attempt has failed

a difficult situation in which someone must divide time, attention, or importance between competing needs

to prepare yourself and your resources for an approaching difficult situation

to produce a successful or useful result

in prison

in private, away from public observation

happening privately or secretly, not in public view

worse than the normal or expected standard

an important person in a small or limited environment

To force yourself to do something unpleasant or difficult that you have been avoiding.

a mixed group of small, unrelated items or leftover pieces

to pioneer an approach that opens the way for later people

to expose what someone has kept secret, such as their identity or scheme

a major setback that seriously weakens a person, organization, or effort

raised from birth in a particular place or environment, with traits shaped by it

to stop concealing one's true position or intentions and make them known

to reach the point where revenue equals costs — no profit, no loss

to do something that has never been done before; to pioneer

to openly depart from the shared position of one's own group

to get past the main obstacle so that the remaining work becomes easier

to do something new and different that sets a new standard

to monitor someone so closely that they feel pressured or uncomfortable

to reduce or remove the difference between two things or groups

To destroy a relationship in a way that makes future cooperation impossible.

the speed at which a company spends its cash reserves, usually measured per month

to work so hard and long that you exhaust yourself

To stay up very late working or studying.

normal activities continuing despite a disruption or unusual circumstances

to create a delay that provides extra time to prepare or decide

generally; on the whole

strictly following the rules or official procedures

a strategy that uses both incentives and penalties to steer behavior

a product or business that generates steady, reliable profit with little further investment

to look at or examine something quickly

to think about something that happened in the past

to begin burning

to catch someone in the very act of doing something wrong

to feel intensely ready to begin after being forced to wait

to pass from one owner to another

the main achievement or feature for which a person, place, or thing is known

to remove distractions or unfinished tasks so you are ready for action

to advance step by step through the ranks of a company

to start to have an effect or become relevant

to reach adulthood or become fully developed and established

to reach a critical point that demands action or resolution

to become known or be discovered, especially something hidden

to gradually accept and emotionally deal with a difficult reality

used when reconsideration brings a fresh realization or memory

to consider and prepare for every important part, possibility, or problem so nothing is missed

To deal with a problem only when it actually arises, not before.

to produce both helpful and harmful effects or implications

To do something cheaply or quickly by skipping important steps, often lowering quality.

to perform well enough for a particular need or expectation

the most advanced stage of development; state-of-the-art

completely abandoned, with no realistic chance that a plan or idea will return

sleeping so deeply that you are completely unaware of your surroundings

very important to someone and loved deeply

a thorough, detailed examination of a topic, problem, or dataset

draw on all one's effort or inner resources to overcome a challenge

Don't risk everything on a single plan or possibility.

the tiring, repetitive, and often unappreciated work that supports a larger task

to increase your commitment to a position or strategy, especially after mixed results

in severe hardship, especially without money, resources, or prospects

feeling sad, discouraged, or low in spirits

to be unable to recall or produce the needed answer or information

to be selected, often by chance, for an unwanted task or outcome

the person or thing that makes something happen or develop

a chaotic or uncooperative situation in which each person acts purely for personal benefit

To accept the unpleasant consequences of your actions.

to test ideas quickly and abandon the failing ones early, learning as cheaply as possible

a person or thing considered an acceptable target for pursuit or criticism

be abandoned, neglected, or fail before completion

to be ignored without producing any response or acknowledgment

to fail to reach an expected standard, amount, or goal

a confident prediction or claim that events soon prove completely wrong