Englische Sprichwörter

as good as one's word: careful to keep one's promise (sein Wort halten)

EXAMPLE: "Cheryl is as good as her word. If she told you she'll have the project done by Monday, she means it. She's very reliable."

easy on the eye: pleasant to look at (fuer das Auge angenehm sein)

EXAMPLE: "Can you think of a Hollywood star who is easy on the eye?" "Sure. George Clooney. Brad Pitt. And then there's Gwyneth Paltrow."

"behind closed doors": Said of events held privately, with the public being excluded. (hinter verschlossenen Türen)

EXAMPLE: "In a procedure from the Middle Ages, 115 cardinals from 52 countries met behind closed doors in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel on Monday afternoon. They will come out of the conclave only after they have chosen the next pope."

best of both worlds: the benefits of both alternatives with the drawbacks of neither (die Vorteile zweier verschiedener Dinge/Zustände genießen)

EXAMPLE: "Children with bilingual parents can enjoy the feeling of being at home in two languages and they really do have the best of both worlds."

eat one's words: to admit that one was wrong (zugeben müssen, dass man sich getäuscht hatte)

EXAMPLE: "All those who were certain that the next pope was going to come from South America or Africa had to eat their words when Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was selected for the papacy."

done with someone: finished with a person; having dealt with him/her(mit jmdm. fertig sein)

EXAMPLE: "When I'm done with him, he's going to be really, really sorry," Carrie told her friends after she found out about her husband's latest affair.

get the picture: To understand something. (verstehen)

EXAMPLE: "Thanks for showing me how to download music onto my iPod. I think have got the picture now."

in for a penny, in for a pound: once involved, one may as well be totally committed (alles oder nichts)

EXAMPLE: "I started jogging in March and then a friend said she was going to run the New York Marathon. So, I thought, in for a penny, in for a pound, and now I'll be running around the Big Apple with her in November!"

call a spade a spade: to speak directly (etw. beim Namen nennen)

EXAMPLE: "The detective said, 'Let's call a spade a spade. You didn't borrow the money from the company; you stole it.'"

a free hand: freedom to choose how to act (freie Hand)

EXAMPLE: "The New York Philharmonic gave cellist Steven Isserlis a free hand in creating the programme. He played Dvorak's Sextet in A, because Dvorak was the first great composer to live in New York, Isserlis said."

get even with someone: to hurt someone in return for a wrong suffered at their hands (jmdm. etw. heimzahlen)

EXAMPLE: "Two of Michael Jackson's former employees spoke out against him because he had fired them. It was their way of getting even with the star."

a word in someone's ear: a confidential or private conversation (ein Gespräch unter vier Augen)

EXAMPLE: "Michelle, a word in your ear about Riccardo's presentation this afternoon. He's going to be talking about the intercultural aspects of the Unicredito-HypoVereinsbank merger deal."

made for someone: ideally suited to or for that person (für jmdn. gemacht sein)

EXAMPLE: "But the moment I talked to her, I felt we were made for each other."

have one's back to the wall: to be in a difficult situation with few choices (mit dem Rücken zur Wand stehen)

EXAMPLE: "Germany had their backs to the wall in the second half of the Confederations Cup game against Brazil on Saturday evening."

walk away with something: to win a prize or reward effortlessly (etw. mühelos gewinnen/ohne Anstrengung erreichen)

EXAMPLE: "For the past five years, Michael Schumacher has walked away with the Formula One World Championship, but now he's in third place behind Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen."

Put someone through his/her paces: to test him or her in some activity. (jmds. Leistungsfaehigkeit ueberpruefen)

EXAMPLE: "Germany's Jens Voigt took the yellow jersey from Lance Armstrong on Sunday. Voigt is not a serious threat to the six-time Tour de France champion. However, Jan Ullrich, Ivan Basso and Alexandre Vinokourov will continue to put Armstrong through his paces."

eat humble pie: to lower oneself or lose dignity by admitting a mistake (zu Kreuze kriechen)

EXAMPLE: "In 1985, Coca-Cola introduced 'New Coke', a new flavour to replace 'Classic Coke'. Although it had done well in consumer tests, New Coke was a marketing disaster. Coca-Cola had to eat humble pie and reintroduce Classic Coke."

build castles in the air: have daydreams and plans that will never happen (Luftschloesser bauen)

EXAMPLE: "My 14-year-old son said he wanted to be rock star. I told him to stop building castles in the air and study engineering, a sensible profession."

the apple of one's eye: someone's favourite person (das ein und alles fuer jmdn. sein)

EXAMPLE: "Donald was Mrs Trump's favourite son. He was the apple of her eye."

all systems go: ready for immediate action (gruenes Lichtbekommen/geben)

EXAMPLE: "Your proposal to open a new branch office in Dublin has been approved, so it's all systems go."

burn the candle at both ends: to do too much (Raubbau mit seiner Gesundheit treiben)

EXAMPLE: "My doctor said that the illness was brought on by stress. She recommended that I stop burning the candle at both ends"

blow hot and cold: to change one's mind constantly about something (sich nicht entscheiden koennen)

EXAMPLE: "The parties should stop making contradictory statements about taxes. They are confusing the voters by blowing hot and cold on tax reform."

a bolt from the blue: an unexpected event that strikes like lightning from the sky (aus heiterem Himmel)

EXAMPLE: "When Patrick heard that he had been fired, it came like a bolt from the blue. He'd been with the company for 18 years."

24/7: twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week (rund um die Uhr, jeden Tag)

EXAMPLE: "We had to work on the project 24/7 to finish it on time."

blow one's own horn: to speak highly of oneself (sich selbst loben)

EXAMPLE: "I know you're usually a quiet person, but you're going to have to blow your own horn during the job interview."

no-brainer: something that is absurdly simple or easy (total einfach/ein Kinderspiel)

EXAMPLE: "Making pancakes is a no-brainer. All you need is flour, eggs and milk."

off the top of my head: immediately and without thinking too much (aus dem Stegreif)

EXAMPLE: "Off the top of my head, I'd say we've collected about 300 euros so far around the office for the earthquake victims in Pakistan."

love somebody to bits: to love someone very much (jmdn. zum Fressen gern haben)

EXAMPLE: "She's made our father very happy. William and I love her to bits." (Prince Harry speaking about Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall)

can't hold a candle to: is very much inferior to someone or something else (jmdm. nicht das Wasser reichen können)

EXAMPLE: "Tom Cruise is extremely popular, but as an actor, he can't hold a candle to Colin Firth."

to go pear-shaped: to go badly wrong (völlig danebengehen)

EXAMPLE: "All our plans for the project went pear-shaped when the bank lost interest in the deal."

to hobnob: spend time with important people (sich unter die Reichen undBerühmten mischen)

EXAMPLE: "I'd like to go to the party after the concert. It'll give me a chance to hobnob with the boss and her husband."

do something from scratch: from the beginning (ganz von vorne anfangen)

EXAMPLE: "I lost the file when the computer crashed, and now I have to start again from scratch"

on the off chance: do something in the hope that something will happen (in der Hoffnung, dass)

EXAMPLE: "We know the game is sold out, but we're going to the stadium on the off chance that someone might have two extra tickets."

make a go of something: to do something successfully (mit etw. Erfolg haben)

EXAMPLE: "Woody Allen failed English at New York University, so he made a go of film-making."

to get the chop: to be fired from a job (gefeuert werden)

EXAMPLE:"White House insiders are telling reporters that Donald Rumsfeld will get the chop, as soon as a new government is formed in Iraq. There's speculation that Senator Joseph Lieberman - a Democrat who ran for vice-president in the 2000 election - might get the top job at the Pentagon."

like turkeys voting for Christmas: to accept a situation which will have bad results (so, als würde man sich ins eigene Fleisch schneiden)

EXAMPLE: "It says here in the newspaper that farmers are giving up subsidies. That would be like turkeys voting for Christmas!"

fly off the handle: lose one's temper suddenly and unexpectedly (plötzlich die Geduld verlieren; in die Luft gehen)

EXAMPLE: "He really flew off the handle when I mentioned the money he owed me."

be in hot water: be in trouble because one has done something wrong (in der Bredouille sein)

EXAMPLE: "The foreign minister found himself in hot water because of the activities of the country's intelligence agencies."

a carrot and stick (approach): using rewards and punishments to influence someone's behaviour (Zuckerbrot und Peitsche)

EXAMPLE: "That company uses a carrot and stick approach: more money is the carrot; loss of your job is the stick."

to jump the gun: to do something before an agreed time (vorpreschen,überstürzt handeln)

EXAMPLE: "Just an hour before the press conference was scheduled to start, Motorola jumped the gun by announcing a number of innovations aimed at making mobile communication easier."

to call the shots: to be in control, to take the initiative (sagen wo es lang geht)

EXAMPLE: "Beijing is now calling the shots in the former British colony of Hong Kong."

over the top: extreme, unsuitable (masslos uebertrieben)

EXAMPLE: "So he bought her 100 red roses for her birthday! That was over the top, if you ask me."

be all the rage: be very fashionable (total im Trend liegen)

EXAMPLE: "Making phone calls over the internet will soon be all the rage. The Netgear Skype phone will allow people to make free calls anywhere they can get a Wi-Fi signal."

in the pipeline: being prepared but not yet ready (im Anrollen).

EXAMPLE: "Google is now offering historic films online. Another project that will give the public access to a huge collection of documentaries is in the pipeline."

to be snowed under: to have too much work (mit Arbeit zugeschüttet sein).

EXAMPLE: "I was hoping to hear back from them yesterday, but apparently they are snowed under with e-mail."

to be on a roll: experiencing continuous success (bestens laufen).

EXAMPLE: "The US economy is on a roll. Employers added 243,000 jobs in February, more than the 210,000 economists had expected."

to be in the bag: certain to be done (unter Dach und Fach sein).

EXAMPLE: "Will Michael Ballack move from Bayern Munich to Chelsea? The BBC says that a deal is in the bag."

to pull out all the stops: to try very hard to make something happen (alle Hebel in Bewegung setzen).

EXAMPLE: "The international community pulled out all the stops to save the life of Abdul Rahman, the Afghan who converted from Islam to Christianity."

to give (a) free rein to someone: to allow sb. to do sth. the way he or she wants to (jmdm. freie Hand lassen)

EXAMPLE: "When the parents went away for the weekend, they gave the older kids free rein."

to make a good fist of something: to do sth. well (eine Sache gut machen)

EXAMPLE: "Kofi Annan, the secretary general of the United Nations, has made a good fist of a very difficult job over the last nine years."

on the level: honest, truthful, trustworthy (ehrlich).

EXAMPLE: "How can we tell if the Iranians are on the level when they say that they don't plan to make nuclear bombs?"

can't make head nor/or tail of: do not understand at all (gar nicht verstehen).

EXAMPLE: "Everyone is listing to 'Crazy' by Gnarls Barkley, but I can't make head or tail of the song."

to put a stop to something: to cause something to end (einer Sache ein Ende machen).

EXAMPLE: "I wish someone would put a stop to all these e-mails offering ways to get rich quickly."

to burn the midnight oil: to work late at night (bis spaet in die Nacht arbeiten)

EXAMPLE: "He's been burning the midnight oil to get that report finished on time."

to get on the bandwagon: to join a particular cause or political party (sich einem Trend anschliessen).EXAMPLE: "Food manufacturers are getting on the low-fat bandwagon because of all the negative reports about fat."

go back to square one: to start from the beginning (wieder ganz von vorn anfangen) EXAMPLE: "I hadn't saved the document before my computer crashed. Now I have to go back to square one."

to be green with envy: to be very envious (blass vor Neid).EXAMPLE:"Barbara was green with envy when I told her I got the job."

I'm all ears: I am listening with total concentration (ganz Ohr sein).EXAMPLE: "So, how was your date with Andrew? Tell me! I'm all ears."

to have a bee in one's bonnet (eine fixe Idee haben)EXAMPLE: "My husband has a bee in his bonnet about saving all our money for our old age."

to keep your eyes peeled (die Augen offen halten) EXAMPLE: "I'm looking for a cheap place to rent. Could you keep your eyes peeled for me?"

to be in the red (in den roten Zahlen sein) EXAMPLE: "Sorry, I can't lend you any more money this month. I'm in the red myself."

Has the cat got your tongue? (Hat es Dir die Sprache verschlagen?)EXAMPLE: "Why don't you say something, John? Has the cat got your tongue?"

Butter wouldn't melt in his/her mouth (er sieht aus, als könnte er kein Wässerchen trüben) EXAMPLE: "She looks as if butter wouldn't melt in her mouth, but she's really very tough."

not enough room to swing a cat (so eng, dass man sich kaum umdrehen kann) EXAMPLE: "Poor Tom. His new flat's so small, there's not enough room to swing a cat."

to paint the town red (einen draufmachen)EXAMPLE: "It's my birthday. Let's go out and paint the town red!"

Let sleeping dogs lie (schlafende Hunde soll man nicht wecken)EXAMPLE: "Don't mention it to him. Let sleeping dogs lie."

to bite off more than you can chew (sich übernehmen) EXAMPLE: "Don't bite off more than you can chew. You'll never get all that work done."

the pot calling the kettle black (man sollte sich an die eigene Nase fassen) EXAMPLE: "She called you a flirt? That's the pot calling the kettle black!"

once in a blue moon (alle Jubeljahre einmal) EXAMPLE: "My sister and I don't really get on. We only see each other once in a blue moon."

to see eye to eye (einer Meinung sein) EXAMPLE: "Philippa and I get on really well, even though we don’t always see eye to eye."

like a bat out of hell (als wäre der Teufel hinter jmdm. her) EXAMPLE: "What's the matter with Fiona? She's just driven off like a bat out of hell."

the flavour of the month (im Augenblick angesagt sein) EXAMPLE: "That model's really the flavour of the month. She's in all the magazines."

caught red-handed (jmdn. auf frischer Tat ertappen) EXAMPLE: "Claire has been making lots of private telephone calls. She was caught red-handed the other day."

like water off a duck's back (keinerlei Wirkung zeigen) EXAMPLE: "I've complained to her about the noise, but it's like water off a duck's back."

out of the blue: something that happens suddenly and unexpectedly (aus heiterem Himmel)EXAMPLE: "David Beckham told BBC Radio 1: 'Steve McClaren called me out of the blue and said I was no longer part of the team.'"

food for thought: anything that makes you think (Stoff zum Nachdenken)EXAMPLE: "Orhan Pamuk's 'Snow' is a superb novel that provides much food for thought."

give someone/something the green light: to give permission for somethingto happen. (jmdm. grünes Licht geben)EXAMPLE: "On Sunday, Panamanian voters gave the government the green light to expand the Panama Canal."

raise (some) eyebrows: to shock or surprise people. (fuer Aufsehen sorgen)EXAMPLE: "Madonna raised some eyebrows when she declared that 'TV is trash' and that she does not let her children watch it."

to bite off more than you can chew: to try to do too much (sich übernehmen)EXAMPLE: "Don't bite off more than you can chew. You'll never get all that work done."

like a bear with a sore head: to be irritable (leicht reizbar sein)EXAMPLE: "What's the matter with Tom? He's been like a bear with a sore head all week."

to look as black as thunder: to look angry (ein finsteres Gesicht machen)EXAMPLE: "Dad looked as black as thunder when I told him I'd crashed his car."

pie in the sky: something much talked about that is unlikely to happen (wie Luftschlösser bauen) EXAMPLE: "It's just pie in the sky to think we can stop the motorway being built."

to talk the hind leg off a donkey: to be talkative (jmdm. ein Ohr abquatschen) EXAMPLE: "My head hurts from listening to Bob all day. He can talk the hind leg off a donkey."

to be caught red-handed: to be caught in the act of doing something wrong (jmdn. auf frischer Tat ertappen)EXAMPLE: "Claire has been making lots of private telephone calls from work. She was caught red-handed the other day."

the best thing since sliced bread: absolutely fantastic (einfach grossartig sein) EXAMPLE: "Steven loves his new laptop. He thinks it's the best thing since sliced bread."

to pass with flying colours: to pass a test with a very high mark (glänzend abschneiden)EXAMPLE: "Congratulations on your exams! I heard you passed with flying colours."

to kill two birds with one stone (zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe schlagen)EXAMPLE: "If you stop over at your mother's, you can kill two birds with one stone: by picking up the cake and fixing her door."

to butter someone up: to make oneself popular with somebody (sich bei jmdm.beliebt machen) EXAMPLE: "How are your building plans going? Can't you butter someone up at the city planning office?"

to keep one's nose to the grindstone: to work hard for a period of time (sich auf die Arbeit konzentrieren)EXAMPLE: "I've decided to keep my nose to the grindstone until the exams are over."

to be past one's sell-by date: to be past one's best years (seine besten Jahre hinter sich haben)EXAMPLE: "He used to be quite good-looking, but he's certainly past his sell-by date now."

the icing on the cake: when a good situation becomes even better (dieKrönung von etw. sein)EXAMPLE: "On the last day of my holiday, I met Brad Pitt. It was the icing on the cake."

to feel off colour: to feel unwell (unwohl, nicht wohl) EXAMPLE: "If you don't mind, I'd rather stay at home. I'm feeling a bit off colour today."

to turn a blind eye: to ignore something (über etw. hinwegsehen, etw. ignorieren) EXAMPLE: "A lot of students cheated in the test, but the teacher turned a blind eye."

he/she wouldn't say boo to a goose (ein schüchterner/harmloser Mensch sein)EXAMPLE: "Mary's so quiet and shy. She wouldn't say boo to a goose."

to see sth. in black and white: to see something in writing (schwarz auf weiss) EXAMPLE: "It's not enough to say you'll pay me. I need to see it in black and white."

to go to the dogs (mit etw. bergab gehen)EXAMPLE: "This town has gone to the dogs since they closed down the car factory."

to be white as a sheet: to be very pale (leichenblass) EXAMPLE: "Are you OK, Sue? You're as white as a sheet."

money-spinner: an idea that allows somebody to make a lot of money (Goldgrube)

EXAMPLE: "The iPod has been a real money-spinner for Apple, hasn't it?"

raise the bar: to set higher standards (die Messlatte höher ansetzen)EXAMPLE: "Zack Snyder has raised the bar for film-makers with his stunning adaptation of '300', the graphic novel by Frank Miller."

to have bigger fish to fry: to have more important things to do (Wichtigeres zu tun haben) EXAMPLE:: "You can't expect her to deal with every staff problem. She's got bigger fish to fry."

all the rage: the latest trend (der letzte Schrei)EXAMPLE: "The colour beige will be all the rage now that Kate Moss has started wearing it."

the knives are out: things have taken a bitter turn (die Messer werden gewetzt) EXAMPLE: "The knives are out for Paul Wolfowitz, the World Bank president, who awarded his girlfriend a position and pay grade that was out of line with Bank rules."

to play catch-up: to work harder in order to be as good as someone else (aufholen) EXAMPLE: "Besides playing professional catch-up, mothers re-entering the workforce face other challenges."

to be stuck in a rut: to be in a situation that is difficult to change (im Alltagstrott stecken)

EXAMPLE: "After 10 years of marriage, my husband and I still like each other a lot. Our love life, however, seems to be stuck in a rut."

still going strong: to be fit (noch gut in Form/Schuss sein) EXAMPLE: "Jane Fonda, who turns 70 later this year, is still going strong and she's planning to make an erotic film to prove that older couples can have satisfying sex lives."

"to break new ground": to do something in an original way (etw. Bahnbrechendes tun)EXAMPLE: "The popular website YouTube has broken new ground in how Internet users can upload, view and share video clips."

"to get your comeuppance": to be punished for doing something wrong (die Quittung kriegen)EXAMPLE: "The 26-year-old hotel heiress and celebutante Paris Hilton got her comeuppance yesterday. Most people think that it was richly deserved."

"pecking order": the position of authority or power in a group (Hackordnung) EXAMPLE: "Lewis Hamilton changed the pecking order at McLaren on Sunday when he upstaged his teammate Fernando Alonso in the Canadian Grand Prix. Hamilton is now the boss."

"iron out": to resolve problems (in Ordnung bringen) EXAMPLE: "George W. Bush will welcome Vladimir Putin to the Bush family's home in Kennebunkport, Maine, on 1 July. I'm sure the Americans and the Russians will iron out some of their differences then."

daylight robbery (Das ist ja Wucher!) EXAMPLE: "Apple wants $499 for an iPhone? They must be joking! That's daylight robbery!"

"to keep one's head": to stay calm and not get too excited or frightened (einen kühlen Kopf bewahren) EXAMPLE: "I told him that the most important thing to do during the job interview was to keep his head."

the rat race": the daily struggle for success in the working world (unerbittlicher Konkurrenzkampf)EXAMPLE: "In one of her very funny books, author Candace Bushnell writes about a model who is sick of the rat race. She wants to marry a rich man so she won't have to work."

"a tidy sum": a lot of money (ein huebsches Suemmchen). The word "tidy" usually means "neat" or "orderly" (ordentlich, aufgeraeumt), but here it is used in the sense of "large". EXAMPLE: "My new car is going to cost me a tidy sum."

"to chew the fat": This means to have an informal, pleasant conversation (quatschen). EXAMPLE: "If you're not too busy, I'd like to get together tomorrow to chew the fat."

"the welcome mat is out": This means "you are welcome to visit at any time" (immer herzlich willkommen sein). A welcome mat is the mat that lies in front of people's front doors. "It would be great to see you. The welcome mat is always out for good friends like you."

to have a memory like a sieve": If you have a memory like a sieve (ein Gedaechtnis wie ein Sieb haben), you keep forgetting things. EXAMPLE: "He forgot to buy milk again. That man has a memory like a sieve."

"to be bushed": To be bushed is to be very tired. People are bushed, for example, after hard work or exercise (erschlagen sein, total kaputt sein). EXAMPLE: "I love jogging, but 15 kilometres is just too far. Now I'm completely bushed."

"no spring chicken": If a person is no spring chicken, he or she is no longer young and able to do all the things young people do. (nicht mehr der/die Jüngste) EXAMPLE: "At 65, Fred Thompson is no spring chicken. Barack Obama, on the other hand, is only 46. Both want to be the next US president."

"a backhanded compliment": If you give someone a backhanded compliment (zweideutiges Kompliment), you say something that sounds nice, but really isn't. EXAMPLE: "She said I looked slimmer in my new bikini. Do think she meant it, or was it a backhanded compliment?"

"windfall": The original meaning of windfall is fruit (especially apples) that has fallen from a tree. But today the word is used to refer to money that one receives unexpectedly (unverhoffter Glücksfall/Geschenk). EXAMPLE: "Most British people say that if they had a sudden windfall, like winning the lottery, they'd put the money straight into property."

to kill two birds with one stone": When you kill two birds with one stone, you perform one activity that lets you solve two problems at once (zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe schlagen). EXAMPLE: "Let's kill two birds with one stone and make a dentist's appointment for both of us tomorrow morning."

"you can't teach an old dog new tricks": The older people are, the harder it is to get them to change their

ways; hence the expression you can't teach an old dog new tricks (einen alten Menschen kann man nicht völlig

umkrempeln). EXAMPLE: "Let's not give Grandfather a computer. You can't teach an old dog new tricks."

"in a huff": to huff means to breathe heavily, sometimes as a sign that you are troubled or annoyed. Someone

who is in a huff is very upset and angry (beleidigt, eingeschnappt sein). EXAMPLE: "He slammed the door and

drove off in a huff."

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do": This means people should respect the customs of the country they

are visiting (man sollte sich überall an die örtlichen Gepflogenheiten anpassen). EXAMPLE: "I've been taking a

two-hour siesta every day ever since I got to Spain. You know, when in Rome..."

"to lose one's bottle": If someone loses his bottle, it means that he has lost the courage to do something (sich

den Schneid abkaufen lassen). EXAMPLE: "The Tory party loved hearing that Gordon Brown is not calling for an

election. It says the prime minister has lost his bottle."

"to hide one's light under a bushel": To hide one's light under a bushel is to conceal one's talent, skill or

achievements out of modesty (Bescheidenheit) (sein Licht unter den Scheffel stellen). EXAMPLE: "You're a

fantastic writer, so stop saying you're no good. I hate it when you hide your light under a bushel."

"to take pains": Someone who takes pains to do something is putting a lot of effort into doing it well or

carefully. People only take pains to do something they consider important (sich große Mühe geben). EXAMPLE:

"He took great pains to explain his decision to her."

"to be worth one's salt": In ancient Rome, soldiers were paid money to buy salt. This payment was called

salarium, from the word sal for salt. Today, workers are paid a salary; those who are worth their salt are good at

their jobs. (etw. taugen, sein Geld wert sein). EXAMPLE: "Any doctor worth his salt would have seen what was

wrong."

the third degree": a long and harsh questioning designed to get information or a confession (Geständnis). To get the third degree is to be interrogated (verhört werden), and to give someone the third degree is to interrogate him or her (jmdn. ins Kreuzverhör nehmen). EXAMPLE: "When he came home, his wife gave him the third degree."

"brush up (on) something": When you reactivate your knowledge of something that has become rusty

(ueberholt) over time, you brush it up (in British English) or brush up on it (in American English). Alternatively,

you can "give it a brush-up" (etw. auffrischen). EXAMPLE: "I definitely need to brush up (on) my French before

my trip to Paris."

give someone the cold shoulder": to show that you do not care about someone, or that you would like to be left alone (jmdm. die kalte Schulter zeigen). EXAMPLE: "I tried to get to know Nancy better, but she gave me the cold shoulder."

"come hell or high water": If you say something will happen come hell or high water, you mean it will

certainly happen, even if there may be great difficulties (komme was wolle). EXAMPLE: "He said he would finish

the job by 9 o'clock on Monday morning, come hell or high water."

"The sky's the limit": If you say this, you mean that there's no upper limit to something. This informal

expression is used when talking about the amount of money you can earn, or when describing opportunities

(nach oben sind keine Grenzen gesetzt). EXAMPLE: "You can do anything you want. The sky's the limit!"

"It's no use crying over spilt milk": There is no point regretting something that has happened and that cannot be changed (Was passiert ist, ist passiert). EXAMPLE: "He didn't get the job he wanted, but it's no use crying over spilt milk. He'll get a good job one day."

"to be down in the mouth": This informal expression means to be unhappy (unglücklich, am Boden zerstört sein). EXAMPLE: "He got his exam results this morning, and he didn't pass, so he's really down in the mouth."

to commit daylight robbery": When you say that someone is committing daylight robbery (US: "highway robbery"), you're saying that the person is charging an unfairly high price for something (etwa: der reine Wucher). EXAMPLE: "You want £100 for this shirt? You must be joking! That's daylight robbery!"

"to look like a drowned rat": This is an unkind description of somebody who is very wet. A drowned rat (ertrunkene/ertränkte Ratte) is not very nice to look at (aussehen wie eine getaufte Maus). EXAMPLE: "It must be raining very hard. You look like a drowned rat."

"to be hopping mad": If someone is hopping mad, he or she is very angry (fuchsteufelswild). EXAMPLE: "I wouldn't go into the boss's office just now if I were you. He's hopping mad about something that happened this morning."

to do someone a good turn": If you do someone a good turn, you do something that will help or benefit that person. If you "do someone a bad turn", you do something that will harm him or her (jmdm. einen Gefallen tun). EXAMPLE: "Your father did you a good turn by not letting you marry at 16."

to tie oneself in knots": If you tie yourself in knots, you become confused in the course of a complicated activity (sich verheddern). EXAMPLE: "My teacher always used to tie herself in knots trying to explain the theory of relativity."

"to show someone the door": When someone shows you the door, that person asks you to leave because he or she is displeased or upset with you (jmdm. die Tür weisen). EXAMPLE: "If you don't stop arguing, our host is going to show you the door."

"to dot the i's and cross the t's": If someone dots the i's and crosses the t's, they pay great attention to every detail of a task. The phrase is sometimes used to imply that such interest in detail is unnecessary (alles übergenau machen). EXAMPLE: "If we give this project to John, it'll take forever. He tends to dot the i's and cross the t's."

"in one's heart of hearts": If you believe something in your heart of hearts, then this is what you truly believe or think (im Grunde seines Herzens). EXAMPLE: "I know in my heart of hearts that I would not have been happy if I had married Sue."

to call someone to account": When you call someone to account, you insist that that person explain why he did something. This is often followed by criticism and/or punishment (jmdn. zur Rechenschaft ziehen). EXAMPLE: "If he made the wrong decision, management will surely call him to account for it."

to deliver the goods": When you deliver (or come up with) the goods, you do what you have promised or what is expected of you (sein Versprechen halten). EXAMPLE: "Jacqueline has promised to help me with my French, but I doubt if she'll ever deliver the goods."

"All's fair in love and war": This 17th-century expression is used in emotional situations to explain ways for achieving one's objectives (Wenn es darauf ankommt, ist alles erlaubt). EXAMPLE: "When I questioned my business partner's aggressive new strategy, he simply said, 'All's fair in love and war'."

"to not do things by halves": If you say that someone doesn't do things by halves, you mean that he or she always does things very thoroughly (keine halben Sachen machen). EXAMPLE: "If you order your new curtains from Martin, you know you'll get top quality. He doesn't do things by halves."

to give short shrift": To give someone or something short shrift is to give him, her or it very little attention and thus unfriendly treatment (vorschnell abtun). EXAMPLE: "Although Klugenstein's ideas were brilliant, they were given short shrift by other 18th-century philosophers."

"rule of thumb": a simple, generalized principle that serves as a useful guide for taking decisions or making comparisons (Faustregel). EXAMPLE: "As a rule of thumb, one year to a dog is like seven years to a human being."

"in the bag": If you say that something is in the bag, you are certain that you will get or achieve it (etw. in der Tasche haben). EXAMPLE: "It's not yet official, but John has told me that his nomination is in the bag."

put a good face on something": (US) to try to hide disappointment or frustration (sich nichts anmerken lassen). EXAMPLE: "Hillary Clinton tried to put a good face on it after Saturday's Democratic Party meeting in Washington, but everyone knew she was unhappy with the outcome."

"to come to nothing": If a plan or an idea comes to nothing, it produces no significant or successful result (nichts daraus werden). EXAMPLE: "As a young man, Daniel had big plans for his future, but they all came to nothing."

to corner the market": If someone corners the market, they gain control over it, which means that they have little or no competition (eine marktbeherrschende Position haben/aufbauen).

to fly off the handle": to suddenly become very angry about something (völlig ausrasten). EXAMPLE: "Just say the words 'income tax' to her, and she completely flies off the handle."

"to have kittens": Female cats have kittens by the litter (Wurf). But if a person has kittens, it means he or she is upset or worried about something (sehr besorgt sein). EXAMPLE: "Mum is having kittens about my new girlfriend. She's afraid she's going to take me away from her for ever."

to get some shut-eye": If you're tired, you need to get some shut-eye, either as a nap (Nickerchen) or a good night's sleep. Shut-eye (etwas Schlaf bekommen) is simply an informal word for sleep. EXAMPLE: "I'm so exhausted after three late nights in a row. I've just got to go home and get some shut-eye."

"to be larger than life": To stand apart from others because of one's exceptional talent or lifestyle (eine außergewöhnliche Persönlichkeit sein). EXAMPLE: "Hollywood films have too many larger-than-life characters. I'd like to see more films about real people."

"to be in clover": Clover is a symbol of good luck, especially if it has four leaves instead of three. If you are in clover, you live a life of comfort and luxury (wie Gott in Frankreich leben, im Überfluss leben). EXAMPLE: "If Martin's new book becomes a best-seller, it will keep him in clover for the rest of his life."

to make oneself scarce": When you make yourself scarce, you quickly leave the place you are in. The normal reason for doing this is to avoid a difficult situation (sich aus dem Staub machen). EXAMPLE: "Jack's made himself scarce. Do you think it's because his ex-wife is here?"

"to have the constitution of an ox": Someone who has the constitution of an ox is extremely healthy and robust (eine eiserne Konstitution haben). EXAMPLE: "Peter works 60 hours a week, parties like a student and hardly ever sleeps, yet he is never ill. He must have the constitution of an ox."

to get to grips with something": If you get to grips with something, you give it serious thought and start taking action to deal with it (etw. anpacken, etw. in Angriff nehmen). EXAMPLE: "The new chairman's first task will be to get to grips with the company's debt."

"a bad apple": a difficult individual among good people (jmd., der unangenehm auffällt oder einen schlechten Einfluß auf andere hat). EXAMPLE: "My friends are having problems with a guy they live with. Bill never washes the dishes or cleans up. He's the one bad apple in the group."

"a slippery customer": someone who is tricky or unreliable or tries to get out of things (ein aalglatter Typ). EXAMPLE: "I'm not sure if I can rely on John when he gives me his word. He is a very slippery customer."

"to see about": To see about something is to give attention to something or to deal with it. EXAMPLE: "I'm going to see about this job offer." When people say "we'll see about that" (das werden wir ja sehen), it means that they are angry about a situation they think might happen, and plan to change it. EXAMPLE: "He thinks he can just go ahead and flirt with my wife. Well, we'll see about that!"

"like a bolt from the blue": an unexpected event that strikes like lightning ((wie ein Blitz) aus heiterem Himmel). EXAMPLE: "After Usain Bolt set a new 100-metre world record at the Beijing Olympics, newspapers in the English-speaking world used headlines such as 'Like a Bolt from the blue' to tell the story."

to break new ground": to do something in an original way (etw.Bahnbrechendes tun) EXAMPLE: "The Large Hadron Collider, the world's largest particle accelerator, is expected to break new ground in everything from physics to electronics."

"to see someone off": to say goodbye to a person who is leaving, often on a longer trip (jmdn. verabschieden). EXAMPLE: "I plan to go to the airport and see Bill off before I come to the office tomorrow."

"to play it by ear": to deal with a situation without having a concrete plan to follow (improvisieren; sehen, was kommt). EXAMPLE: "I'd like to go to the concert on Thursday, but I'm not sure if I can, since I might have to work late. Perhaps we can just play it by ear."

to beat about the bush": When you beat about (US: around) the bush, you discuss something without getting to the point (um den heißen Brei herumreden). EXAMPLE: "Stop beating about the bush! Tell me what you want!"

to have a bee in one's bonnet": to have an obsession, usually about something unimportant (eine fixe Idee haben). EXAMPLE: "Try not to leave any dishes in the sink. Martha has a bee in her bonnet about that."

something fishy": When you say that something is fishy, it means that it's mysterious or suspicious (verdächtig, zweifelhaft). EXAMPLE: "There's something fishy about the trip Greg took to New York. The boss thinks he had a job interview with a new company while he was there."

"it's no skin off my nose": it's not something that bothers me (das ist mir egal). EXAMPLE: "Lisa said she'd rather go to the theatre with Pete. It's no skin off my nose if she does."

to lend someone a hand": This expression simply means to help someone (jmdm. helfen). EXAMPLE: "Could you lend me a hand for a minute? I don't think I can get this heavy box up the stairs on my own."

to cut it fine (US: close)": to leave very little time for doing something (sehr wenig Zeit einräumen). EXAMPLE: "Tina and Jack were really cutting it fine to get to the airport on time. They only just made it."

to have a screw loose": A person with a screw loose, or a few screws loose, is slightly crazy (etwas verrückt sein, eine Schraube locker haben). EXAMPLE: "Mr Smith must have a screw loose. He's always talking to himself."

"to have something up one's sleeve": to have something hidden, but ready to use (etw. in petto haben). EXAMPLE: "Uncle Jim always had something up his sleeve to amuse the kids."

to be thrown in at the deep end": Being thrown in at the deep end means having to face a difficult problem with little or no preparation (jdn. ins kalte Wasser werfen). EXAMPLE: "We were really thrown in at the deep end at the start of the project. Talk about learning on the job!"

"to lead someone up the garden path": to misinform someone deliberately (jmdn. an der Nase herumführen, jmdm. einen Bären aufbinden). EXAMPLE: "Charlie kept leading us up the garden path. He thought it was really funny to pretend he was the manager."

"to burn the candle at both ends": to tire oneself out by working hard and not resting enough (sich völlig verausgaben/überarbeiten). EXAMPLE: "In the film The Wrestler, Mickey Rourke plays a middle-aged man who has spent his life burning the candle at both ends."

"to pull one's socks up": If you are told to pull your socks up, it means you really have to make an effort to do something (sich am Riemen reißen). EXAMPLE: "The teacher has told Brian to pull his socks up at least three times now, but it doesn't seem to work. He just does what he likes in class."

"to give someone a tinkle": Another way of saying to telephone someone (UK, ifml.) jmdn. anrufen). EXAMPLE: "Could you give me a tinkle later this afternoon? I'll be at home around 5 p.m."

"Too many cooks spoil the broth": another way of saying that if too many people become involved, things will not work out very well (viele Köche verderben den Brei). EXAMPLE: "Please don't help us to put this cupboard up. Too many cooks spoil the broth."

"to make hay while the sun shines": This means to make use of opportunities for profit or enjoyment (das Eisen schmieden solange es heiß ist). EXAMPLE: "Go on, take that job. You should make hay while the sun shines."

to add fuel to the fire": to do or say something that makes a bad situation worse (Öl ins Feuer gießen). EXAMPLE: "President Asif Ali Zardari, already under enormous pressure, said that the Pakistani media was adding fuel to the fire."

once in a blue moon": something that hardly ever happens (nur alle Jubeljahre einmal). EXAMPLE: "Once in a blue moon I get very drunk and say 'I am glad I did that!'"

rule of thumb": a practical method that can be used most of the time to get an acceptable result (Faustregel). EXAMPLE: "There's a rule of thumb in the travel industry that says: the longer the cruise, the older the passengers will be."

"a recipe for disaster": a mix of people or and things that could only result in trouble (damit ist die Katastrophe vorprogrammiert). EXAMPLE: "Raising taxes in the middle of a recession is a recipe for disaster."

"to have an axe to grind": to have a problem with something or someone (noch eine Rechnung offen haben). EXAMPLE: "A G20 protester threw a computer through the window of a London office of the Royal Bank of Scotland. He must have had an axe to grind with the financial system."

"to drive someone up the wall": to really annoy someone (jmdn. auf die Palme bringen). EXAMPLE: "My internet connection isn't working. It drives me up the wall when I call the helpline and they just put me on hold!"

"to tie the knot": to get married (sich das Jawort geben) EXAMPLE: "Mexican-American actress Salma Hayek and billionaire French businessman Francois-Henri Pinault tied the knot in Venice last month."

"to lose the plot": to lose control (die Nerven verlieren) EXAMPLE: "When he suddenly started crying in the middle of the presentation, I knew he'd lost the plot."

"to give someone the cold shoulder": to show that one does not care about a person, or that one would like to be left alone (jmdm. die kalte Schulter zeigen). EXAMPLE: "When I tried to get to know Michelle better, she just gave me the cold shoulder."

"to be in the bag": certain to be done, completed (unter Dach und Fach sein). EXAMPLE: "Will the Brazilian star Kaka move from AC Milan to Real Madrid? The BBC says that a transfer deal is in the bag."

"to come to nothing": to produce no results (nichts daraus werden)  EXAMPLE: "The Wall Street Journal reported last month that Apple was negotiating to buy Twitter, but the talks came to nothing."v

"to land on one's feet": to be lucky or successful — seemingly without any effort (auf die Füße fallen). EXAMPLE: "Don't worry about Gordon losing his job. He always lands on his feet."

"come hell or high water": something is going to happen, ever if there may be great difficulties (komme, was da wolle). EXAMPLE: "They said they'd finish the project by the end of the month, come hell or high water."

"to be hopping mad": to be very angry (stinksauer). EXAMPLE: "I wouldn't go into her office right now if I were you. She's hopping mad about the breakdown of the website this morning."

around somebody": to be much better than someone (haushoch überlegen sein). EXAMPLE: "Now that they have signed Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid will be expected to run rings around most of their European opponents."

In for a penny, in for a pound": when taking a chance, you might as well go the whole way and take all the risks (Wenn schon, denn schon). EXAMPLE: "Jonathan Harker looked up at the moon as he walked towards Dracula's castle. 'In for a penny, in for a pound', he said to himself and pushed open the door."

"a piece of the action": a share of the profits (dass für jmdn. etwas abfällt). EXAMPLE: "Investors in some of the big pharmaceutical companies are hoping for a piece of the action if everyone gets the swine flu vaccine."

"below the belt": unfair (unter der Gürtellinie). EXAMPLE: "Chelsea star Didier Drogba apologized for some below-the-belt remarks he had made about referee Tom Henning Ovrebo."

"cold comfort": no consolation at all (kein Trost). EXAMPLE: "The latest statistics hint at the end of the recession, but that's cold comfort for the unemployed until the recovery actually leads to jobs."

"a done deal": a final agreement (beschlossene Sache). EXAMPLE: "Batman's next Catwoman will be Megan Fox. England's Sun newspaper says it's already a done deal. Director Christopher Nolan is preparing to begin production of his third Batman film next year."

"to make ends meet": to live just within your income (über die Runden kommen). EXAMPLE: "Many middle-class families, buried in bills, are cutting back and struggling to make ends meet."

"itchy feet": the need to leave, to travel (wegfahren wollen, keine Lust mehr haben zu bleiben). EXAMPLE: "The video artist Indra Ho Eng has lived in Hong Kong, Oxford, Rome, and Boston, and is now in Berlin, but she says she's getting itchy feet again."

"to change hands": to be sold or passed from owner to owner (den/die Besitzer(in) wechseln). EXAMPLE: "When Young Woman Seated at the Virginals by Vermeer was sold for almost $40 million in 2004, it was the first painting by the Dutch master to have changed hands in 50 years."

"to hit the jackpot": to be very successful, often in a way that makes a lot of money (das große Los ziehen, sehr erfolgreich sein). EXAMPLE: "David Sedaris hit the jackpot with Naked in 1997. He has sold seven million books since then."

"as keen as mustard":  (UK ifml.) to be very eager, very enthusiastic (etw. unbedingt wollen; hoch motiviert sein, etw. zu tun). EXAMPLE: "Why don't we ask Daphne to lead the project team? She's as keen as mustard."

"every now and then": from time to time, sometimes (von Zeit zu Zeit, ab und zu). EXAMPLE: "Every now and then, a film comes along that changes how we think about life. The South African science-fiction story District 9 is one of them."

"on the same wavelength": in agreement (auf der selben Wellenlänge, Ansichten teilend). EXAMPLE: "Friendship and thinking on the same wavelength are two factors that make a marriage successful," Mary Fleur Mount said. Her husband, David, nodded in agreement.

"miss the boat": to miss an opportunity or chance (den Anschluss/den richtigen Moment verpassen). EXAMPLE: "Has Microsoft missed the boat with phones? Its mobile platform strategy is failing against Apple's iPhone and Google's Android."

"at the drop of a hat": immediately, without delay (ohne zu zögern, in null Komma nichts). EXAMPLE: "Well, if I were offered a contract like that, I'd sign it at the drop of a hat."

"sit on the fence": to avoid making a decision (sich nicht entscheiden können/wollen, eine Entscheidung aufschieben). EXAMPLE: "Investors sat on the fence for the first half of the year, but when the mood on Wall Street improved they got back into the market."

"fed up to the teeth": tired of something, annoyed with somebody (die Nase voll haben von, genug haben von). EXAMPLE: "I am fed up to the teeth with seeing Lady Gaga on the front page of every fashion magazine. She doesn't even wear clothes most of the time!"

"be stuck in a rut": be caught in a state that does not change (aus einer Situation nicht mehr herauskommen, sich in einer immer gleichen Situation befinden).  EXAMPLE: "The United States is stuck in a slow-growth rut, the Federal Reserve said last week."

"on the spur of the moment": suddenly, without planning (der Eingebung des Augenblicks folgend, kurz entschlossen, spontan). EXAMPLE: "Because this is the Year of the Tiger, the Chinese say that people will do dramatic things on the spur of the moment. Twenty ten could be a difficult year for diplomacy."

"on the blink": not working properly (nicht mehr richtig funktionieren, kaputt sein). EXAMPLE: "My MP3 player is on the blink. Maybe someone will give me a new one for Christmas."

"the acid test": a test that proves the value, quality or truth of something (Feuerprobe, Härtetest). EXAMPLE: "Palestine remains the acid test for the credibility of any American president in the eyes of Arabs and Muslims."

"spill the beans": to give away a secret (die Katze aus dem Sack lassen). EXAMPLE: "It was Ashley Samson who spilled the beans on Rachel Uchitel's affair with Tiger Woods."

"in short supply": scarce (nur begrenzt verfügbar). EXAMPLE: "Fresh vegetables are in short supply at this time of year. That's why they're so expensive."

"dirt cheap": extremely inexpensive (spottbillig). EXAMPLE: "Freescale Semiconductor is selling a dirt-cheap tablet computer that runs Linux."

"dead to the world": sleeping as soundly as possible (tief und fest schlafen, total weg sein). EXAMPLE: "Can you call back? Sally had a very hard day and she's up in her bedroom — dead to the world."

"in plain English": in simple, clear language (auf gut Deutsch, offen gesagt). EXAMPLE: "In plain English, the new law means that if you are found guilty of cheating on your taxes, you will be banned from acting as a director of a company."

"be in a fix": to be in a difficult situation (in der Klemme sitzen). EXAMPLE: "We were in a fix after Steve lost his job, but our family and friends helped us out."

"hit or miss": random, haphazard, sometimes succeeding, sometimes not (Glückssache, vom Zufall abhängig). EXAMPLE: "Weather forecasting used to be a very hit-or-miss affair, but now it's much more accurate."

"learn the hard way": to find out something by experience, especially by an unpleasant experience (die leidvolle Erfahrung machen). EXAMPLE: "I learned the hard way that it's not easy to work and go to university at the same time."

"jump at the chance": to accept an opportunity enthusiastically (die Gelegenheit beim Schopf packen). EXAMPLE: "The company decided to open an office in Silicon Valley and she jumped at the chance when they asked her to run it."

for keeps": forever (für immer, auf Dauer). EXAMPLE: "When he first met Kate, Sam knew it was for keeps."

"in no time": very quickly (im Handumdrehen, sofort). EXAMPLE: "You're at the airport now! OK. I'll be there in no time."

"hem and haw": to be uncertain about something; to be evasive (herumdrucksen, herumstottern). EXAMPLE: "Stop hemming and hawing. We want an answer. Now!"

"be/go through the mill": to experience a difficult period in one's life (viel durchmachen). EXAMPLE: "Karren Brady, the vice-chairman of West Ham United FC, has been through the mill. Four years ago, a scan uncovered a cerebral aneurysm — a weakened artery in her brain that could have killed her at any moment."

"the ins and outs": the things one needs to know in order to do something (sich auskennen, die Einzelheiten kennen). EXAMPLE: "I don't know the ins and outs of writing a CV. Could you advise me, please?"

"strike the right note": to do, say or write something that is suitable for a particular occasion (den richtigen Ton treffen). EXAMPLE: "Nick Clegg seems to have struck the right note with the British public. People like the sound of his policies and politics."

"under a cloud": suspected of doing something wrong or illegal (belastet von/durch). EXAMPLE: "Pope Benedict XVI visited Malta under a cloud of scandal caused by the sexual abuse crisis that has shaken the Catholic church."

"work wonders": to be very successful in getting results (ein Wunder vollbringen) EXAMPLE: "Roy Hodgson has worked wonders with Fulham FC by bringing them to the Europa League final in the Hamburg Arena tomorrow night."

"hale and hearty": to be healthy and strong (gesund und munter) EXAMPLE: Warren Buffett told Berkshire Hathaway shareholders that he's hale and hearty. The 79-year-old 'Sage of Omaha' has run the company for 45 years."

"a flash in the pan": a success that lasts for a short time and is not repeated (vorübergehend, strohfeuerartig)  EXAMPLE: "The 3D technology behind James Cameron's 'Avatar' is nothing more than a flash-in-the-pan Hollywood gimmick, critics say."

"straight from the shoulder": directly and honestly (unverblümt).  EXAMPLE: "The most dramatic moment came when she told the boss that he was talking nonsense. She gave it to him straight from the shoulder."

"cover a lot of ground": to deal with a lot of facts (viel bearbeiten/abarbeiten/schaffen). EXAMPLE: "Politics, sex, money, media, crime... By the time you get to the end of the first chapter of Larsson's novel, you've covered a lot of ground."

"not have the foggiest idea": to not know anything at all about something (nicht die leiseste Ahnung haben). EXAMPLE: "Most Europeans don't have the foggiest idea about what America's really like."

"stay ahead of the pack": to make more progress than your rivals (der Konkurrenz immer um eine Nasenlänge voraus sein). EXAMPLE: "His Asian and European competitors want to clone the magic of the iPhone, but Steve Jobs has shown that Apple knows how to stay ahead of the pack."

"bark up the wrong tree": to look for something in the wrong place (auf dem falschen Dampfer sein). EXAMPLE: "FIFA rules have always stated that the referee's decisions are final. Anyone expecting it to do something about the scandal of the 'Bloemfontein Goal' is barking up the wrong tree."

"go pear shaped": to either go wrong or produce an unexpected and unwanted result (in die Hose gehen, schiefgehen).  EXAMPLE: "After just three minutes against Germany on Saturday in Cape Town, it all went pear shaped for the Argentineans."

"the elephant in the room": a problem that everyone knows very well but no one talks about because it is taboo or embarrassing (unausgesprochenes Problem). EXAMPLE: "When David Cameron met gay community leaders at Downing Street, the elephant in the room was same-sex marriage."

 "jockey for position": to manoeuvre for a certain position or advantage (sich um eine Position rangeln). EXAMPLE: "The US, Russia, Canada, Norway and Denmark are jockeying for position in the race to exploit the natural resources of the Arctic region."

like peas in a pod": to look or be identical (sich gleichen wie ein Ei dem anderen). EXAMPLE: "Opposites attract, right. So how can you have a happy marriage if couples are like peas in a pod?"

"muddy the waters": make a situation more complex or less clear (eine Situation unübersichtlicher machen). EXAMPLE: "BP has muddied the waters with confusing information about the chemical dispersants it used to break up oil slicks created by the Deepwater Horizon disaster."

"the icing on the cake": something good that happens on top of an already good situation (das Sahnehäubchen). EXAMPLE: Mils Muliaina's try put the icing on the cake for New Zealand in their win over Australia in Christchurch on Saturday."

"all the rage": very fashionable (der letzte Schrei). EXAMPLE: "It's still summer, but fashionistas are already planning their autumn wardrobes. Wider-legged trousers will be all the rage in October, they say."

"in the works": something that is planned or underway (in der Mache). EXAMPLE: "A new vaccine against malaria is in the works. Mosquirix could be available as early as 2012, according to African scientists who are testing it."

"lay down the law": to say something in a way the shows you expect orders to be accepted without argument (Vorschriften machen). EXAMPLE: "Sometimes, success is simply a matter of negotiating or laying down the law."

rule the roost": to be in charge and to control everyone and everything else (der Herr im Hause sein). EXAMPLE: "Among mobile phone operating systems, Symbian still rules the roost with an 87.1 percent market share."

plain sailing": relatively easy (eine klare / glatte Sache).  EXAMPLE: "After lap 37 in the Italian Grand Prix at the weekend, it was plain sailing for Fernando Alonso, as Jenson Button couldn't match his speed."

keep under wraps": to hide something or keep it a secret (verschlossen halten, geheim halten) EXAMPLE: "Twitter is rolling out a major redesign that it kept under wraps until last week."

"in the flesh": in person (leibhaftig, höchstpersönlich). EXAMPLE: "Rather than ask job candidates to fly to the Gulf to do interviews in the flesh, recruiters in Abu Dhabi are using video conferencing technology instead."

"to wine and dine": to entertain someone with good food and, usually, alcohol (jmdn. fürstlich bewirten). EXAMPLE: "Nigerian politicians were wined and dined by top oil corporations as they made plans to drill off the country's coast, it has emerged."

"a tidy sum": a lot of money (ein hübsches Sümmchen).  EXAMPLE: "A Twitter speculator, who runs a porn site, made a tidy sum last week by selling the @Israel username to the Israeli government."

"make a killing": to make a lot of money quickly and easily (einen Mordsgewinn machen). EXAMPLE: "Drug firms claim that four in ten women have low libido — and hope to make a killing with pills to treat it."

"an outside chance": the prospect that something will happen, although it probably won't (eine minimale Chance). EXAMPLE: "There's an outside chance that Geoffrey Rush will win an Oscar for his role as the speech therapist in The King's Speech." "break new ground": to do something that is different to anything that has been done before (etw. Bahnbrechendes tun)  EXAMPLE: "Vitaly Petrov broke new ground with Renault this year, becoming the first Russian driver in Formula One racing history."

"in two minds": to be unable to make a decision about something (mit sich selbst über etwas nicht einig sein). EXAMPLE: "I was in two minds whether or not to come to work this morning."

"for a song": something that's bought or sold very cheaply (für einen Apfel und ein Ei). EXAMPLE: "A Gibson Melody Marker guitar once owned by Joan Jett was sold for a song on eBay last week."

pass the time": to do something to keep busy while waiting (die Zeit verbringen / sich die Zeit vertreiben). EXAMPLE: "While he was in prison, Nelson Mandela passed the time reading books, boxing, playing football and writing letters."

"by and large": generally, mostly (im Großen und Ganzen). EXAMPLE: "The late-night films shown on Japanese television are, by and large, Hollywood imports."

"fill someone's shoes": to take over someone's duties (in jmds. Fußstapfen treten). EXAMPLE: "They may have found someone to fill Ted's shoes."

"blow sth. out of the water": to be so much better as to be beyond comparison (etw. haushoch überlegen sein). EXAMPLE: "Our new product will blow all the others out of the water!"

"be decked out": be decorated or clothed in a fancy or festive way (geschmückt sein, herausgeputzt sein).EXAMPLE: "The helpers arrived, all decked out in elf costumes."

"come to a close": reach the end (zu Ende gehen).EXAMPLE: "As 2010 comes to a close, we can look back on all the things we've done."

be off to a good start": begin in a promising way (gut anfangen).EXAMPLE: "The sun's shining, breakfast is ready, and I can smell the coffee. The day is off to a good start."

"give sb. a heads-up": warn somebody about something that's going to happen(N. Am.: jmdn. auf etw. aufmerksam machen, jmdn. warnen).EXAMPLE: "I just want to give you a heads-up that a lot of work will be coming our way next week.

"wrong on so many levels": wrong or bad for many reasons(US: falsch oder schlecht, egal wie man es betrachtet).EXAMPLE: "Botox for teenagers? That is just wrong on so many levels."”

"have the munchies": be very hungry, mainly for snacks (Heißhunger haben).EXAMPLE: "A whole bag of pretzels? You must really have the munchies!"

"hold someone's feet to the fire":keep someone under pressure (Druck auf jmdn. ausüben)EXAMPLE: "The protesters in Egypt will hold the military's feet to the fire to bring about reforms."

"blow one's top": suddenly and uncontrollably express one's anger at someone (explodieren, in die Luft gehen).EXAMPLE: "For the boss to blow his top like that was just so unprofessional."

"a skeleton in the cupboard (or closet)": a shocking fact that someone wishes to keep secret (eine Leiche im Keller).EXAMPLE: "Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg's fake doctoral thesis was a skeleton in the cupboard waiting to come out. His career was based on a lie."

"get to the bottom of sth.": find an explanation for sth. mysterious (etw. auf den Grund gehen).EXAMPLE: "The police detectives were able to get to the bottom of things."

"our hearts go out to sb.": sb. has our sympathy (unsere Gedanken sind bei jmdm.)

"duh": obviously (klar, was denn sonst?)EXAMPLE: "A study says women who post lots of photos of themselves on Facebook need attention. Well, duh."

be late to one's own funeral": be late for everything (immer zu spät kommen)EXAMPLE: "You're never on time! You're going to be late to your own funeral (Beerdigung)."

"boots on the ground": ground troops (Bodentruppen)EXAMPLE: "The president has been quite clear that, in terms of the United States military, there will be no boots on the ground [in Libya]." — US Defense Secretary Robert Gates

"rearrange the deckchairs on the Titanic":do something that will have no effect in preventing disaster (angesichts einer bevorstehenden Katastrophe nur Belangloses tun)

"make great strides": make lots of progress (große Fortschritte machen)

"be a game-changer": fundamentally change the probability of success (die Erfolgschancen deutlich steigern)EXAMPLE: "There is a possibility that [the killing of Osama bin Laden] could be a game-changer." — Robert M. Gates

"play phone tag": respond to a telephone message by leaving another message, without either person ever getting to talk to the other (einander hinterhertelefonieren)EXAMPLE: "Beth and I have been playing phone tag all week."

"hear crickets": get silence as a response (keine Reaktion bekommen)EXAMPLE: "He thought the joke was funny, but when he told it, he heard crickets."

"give the three-fingered salute": press a combination of keys on a computer in order to close a program that won't respond (den Klammergriff anwenden)

"pie in the sky": something that is nice to think about but that will probably never be realized (Luftschlösser)

"Would you like fries with that?": a sarcastic response to an unreasonable request (Sonst noch was?)EXAMPLE: "While you're up, could you make me a sandwich?" — "Would you like fries with that?"

"be slapped with something": (US) be given sth. that shocks you (eine böse Überraschung erleben)

EXAMPLE: "George used his mobile phone when he was in Japan. Now he's been slapped with a huge bill."

"preach to the converted": try to convince people who already share one's own opinions (offene Türen einrennen).EXAMPLE: "You don't have to tell me to eat healthier food. You're preaching to the converted here."

"take a back seat to sth.": be in or move to a less important position relative to something (etw. nachgeordnet sein, in den Hintergrund treten)EXAMPLE: "Fighting climate change has taken a back seat to economic priorities."

"have an axe to grind": have something to complain about (Grund zur Klage haben)EXAMPLE: "Regarding New York City's new bike lanes, everybody seems to have an axe to grind."

make money hand over fist": earn money very quickly (Geld scheffeln)EXAMPLE: "With the right investments, you can make money hand over fist. With the wrong investments, you could lose everything."

"the back of beyond": a place that's very far away and difficult to get to (das Ende der Welt)EXAMPLE: "They live all the way out here? This is really the back of beyond."

"call it a day": stop the work that you have been doing for a while (aufhören)

keep pace with the times": do things that are modern (auf Höhe der Zeit bleiben)EXAMPLE: "By introducing an e-paper edition, Spotlight is keeping pace with the times."

the greatest thing since..." (US) the best thing possible (das Allergrößte)EXAMPLE: "[Movies] have gotten many people to think NASA's the greatest thing since peanut butter. I'm not sure they've done a good job of showing the total picture." — physicist Stanton Friedman, science adviser to the film Apollo 18

"flavor of the month": a person or thing that is loved at the moment, but that will soon be replaced (Liebling der Saison, die derzeitige Nummer eins)EXAMPLE: "Presidential candidate Herman Cain is the Republicans' flavor of the month."

"on a shoestring (budget)": for very little money (mit wenig Geld) EXAMPLE: "There's only so much you can do on a shoestring budget."

"step in it": say something that makes you feel shame (ins Fettnäpfchen treten)EXAMPLE: "Yeah, I stepped in it, man. Yeah, it was embarrassing." — US presidential candidate Rick Perry

an honest day's pay for an honest day's work:fair payment of someone who works hard and does what he or she is supposed to do (angemessene Bezahlung)EXAMPLE: "All he wanted was an honest day's pay for an honest day's work."

till the cows come home": for an indefinitely long time (ewig, bis zum Abwinken)EXAMPLE: "We don't have to go to work tomorrow, so we can stay out till the cows come home."

"It's not over till the fat lady sings.": There is more to come. (Es ist noch nicht aller Tage Abend.)

"put sth. on the back burner": give sth. low priority (etw. auf die lange Bank schieben)EXAMPLE: "We've put our holiday plans on the back burner. We're trying to save money to buy a house."

"put two and two together": use known facts to determine what is happening (sich etw. zusammenreimen)EXAMPLE: "The fingerprints, the missing cash, and a ticket to the Bahamas: it's not hard to put two and two together."

"strike while the iron is hot": take advantage of an unusual opportunity (die Gunst der Stunde nutzen) EXAMPLE: "Five for the price of one? I say let's strike while the iron is hot!"

"it's no use crying over spilt milk": it is useless to regret sth. that has already happened and that cannot be changed (Was geschehen ist, ist geschehen.)EXAMPLE: "You deleted the file you were working on? Well, it's no use crying over spilt milk. Just start over."

"walk and chew gum (at the same time)": have at least basic intelligence (halbwegs intelligent sein)EXAMPLE: "For that job, they'll hire anybody who can walk and chew gum."

"have it both ways": enjoy the advantages of two opposite things (beides haben)EXAMPLE: "Longer hours and less pay? No. They can't have it both ways."

"have (got) someone's back": (US) be ready to make sure that nothing bad happens to someone (bereit sein, jmdn. zu beschützen)EXAMPLE: "Barack Obama said that he has Israel's back."

"have spring fever": feel restless and excited at the beginning of spring (Frühlingsgefühle haben)EXAMPLE: "I just can't sit still. It must be spring fever."

"hit bottom": reach an emotional low point (einen Tiefpunkt erreichen)EXAMPLE: "Just arrived at the ocean's deepest point. Hitting bottom never felt so good." — film director James Cameron

"bet one's bottom dollar": (US) be absolutely certain (darauf Gift nehmen)EXAMPLE: "You can bet your bottom dollar that Steve will be here on time."

"be a happy camper": have everything one needs (zufrieden sein)EXAMPLE: "Give me a comfortable sofa, a cat and a good book, and I'm a happy camper."

"a stone's throw away": only a short distance away (einen Katzensprung entfernt)EXAMPLE: "The town may not look like much, but the lake is just a stone's throw away."

"wake up and smell the coffee": realize what is going on (die Wahrheit erkennen). EXAMPLE: "You didn't know she was interested in someone else? It's time to wake up and smell the coffee."

"a miss is as good as a mile": "almost" doesn't count (Knapp daneben ist auch vorbei.) EXAMPLE: "What do you mean, you almost got the job? A miss is as good as a mile."

"rob Peter to pay Paul": take money or resources away from one person or project in order to provide for another (das eine Loch stopfen und ein anderes aufmachen)EXAMPLE: "We can't borrow money to pay our debts. That would be robbing Peter to pay Paul."

"be a chip off the old block": look or act very much like one's parent (ganz der Vater / ganz die Mutter sein)EXAMPLE: "You and your son are both really good with numbers. He's a chip off the old block, isn't he?"

"get on like a house on fire": have a harmonious relationship (UK; sich sehr gut verstehen)EXAMPLE: "Thanks for introducing me to Frieda. We get on like a house on fire."

"bite the hand that feeds you": harm someone who has helped or supported you (den Ast absägen, auf dem man sitzt)EXAMPLE: "Lucy keeps posting on her Facebook page about how much she hates her job. She should be careful not to bite the hand that feeds her."

"be smooth sailing": go well, without problems (in ruhigen Bahnen verlaufen)EXAMPLE: "We've done the hard part. From now on, it'll be smooth sailing."

"get sth. off one's chest": say something that one has needed to say for a long time (etw. loswerden)EXAMPLE: "Could we talk for a moment? I need to get something off my chest."

"by the seat of one's pants": using one's instincts (aus dem Bauch heraus).EXAMPLE: "Your directions were rather vague. We found your house by the seat of our pants."

"go back to the drawing board": start over after a lack of success (noch einmal von vorn anfangen)EXAMPLE: "This plan is not working. It's time to go back to the drawing board."

"look a gift horse in the mouth": complain about something one is getting for free (einem geschenkten Gaul ins Maul schauen)EXAMPLE: "Can you really complain about Wikipedia? I mean, that's looking a gift horse in the mouth."

"out there": (US) bold, unconventional, creative (gewagt, unkonventionell, kreativ)EXAMPLE: "Putting an office in a sandbox is pretty out there."

"the right stuff": the right combination of qualities (der Stoff, aus dem Helden sind)EXAMPLE: "The first person to walk on the moon had to be somebody special. Neil Armstrong had the right stuff."

"test the water(s)": find out what people think before you do something (die Stimmung testen)EXAMPLE: "This survey will help us to test the water."

"change horses in midstream": change strategies while in the middle of something (einen anderen Kurs einschlagen)EXAMPLE: "Barack Obama is trying to persuade voters not to change horses in midstream."

"do sth. till one is blue in the face": put all one's effort into doing something that will have no effect (etw. tun, bis man schwarz wird)EXAMPLE: "You can complain till you're blue in the face. That won't change anything."

"learn the ropes": learn the procedures one needs to use (sich einarbeiten).EXAMPLE: "Rochelle's been here for only a month, but already she's learned the ropes."

"standing room only": filled to capacity (bis auf den letzten Platz gefüllt)EXAMPLE: "It was standing room only again at the Oktoberfest."

"be the spitting image of sb.": look exactly like another person (jmdm. wie aus dem Gesicht geschnitten sein)EXAMPLE: "One of my students is the spitting image of Prince Harry."

"off the cuff": without preparation (aus dem Stegreif) EXAMPLE: "When speaking to a large number of people, it's best not to say things off the cuff."

"the gloves come off": things are being done in an uncompromising way (man kämpft mit harten Bandagen)EXAMPLE: "The gloves came off at Monday night's Obama-Romney debate."

"down to the wire": (N. Am.) not decided until the very last minute (bis zum Schluss offen)EXAMPLE: "The contest between Mitt Romney and Barack Obama is down to the wire."

"pull the wool over sb.'s eyes": try to get someone to believe things that aren't true (jmdn. hinters Licht führen)EXAMPLE: "Don't believe a thing they say. They're just trying to pull the wool over your eyes."

"rub shoulders with sb.": come into contact with someone (mit jmdm. in Berührung kommen)EXAMPLE: "We got to rub shoulders with diplomats and other important people."

"great minds think alike": we've just had the same idea (zwei Seelen und ein Gedanke)EXAMPLE: "You were just going to get a pizza, too? Hey! Great minds think alike."

"get in under the wire": (N. Am.) do something just in time (es gerade noch rechtzeitig schaffen)EXAMPLE: "It's been a great year for British celebrations. ... We just got in under the wire."— Mick Jagger (The Rolling Stones)

"throw sb. under the bus": (US) to sacrifice somebody for one's own advantage (jmdn. den Wölfen zum Fraß vorwerfen)EXAMPLE:"Microsoft has now thrown the old customer base under the bus."— usability expert Jakob Nielsen

"be snowed under": have too much of something, such as work, to deal with (mit Arbeit eingedeckt sein)EXAMPLE: "I'm sorry I haven't written sooner. I've been snowed under."

"from all walks of life": from different social classes and professions (aus allen Gesellschaftsschichten)EXAMPLE: "It was a fascinating event. You could meet people from all walks of life there."

"silver bullet": a simple, effective solution (Patentrezept) EXAMPLE:"Joe Biden said there is no 'silver bullet' for preventing gun violence."

"bring sth. to its knees": weaken something so that it cannot function well (etw. lahmlegen)EXAMPLE: "The snowstorms of the last few days brought Heathrow Airport to its knees."

"drive sb. nuts": make someone crazy (jmdn. verrückt machen) EXAMPLE: "It drives me nuts when people talk with their mouth full."

"be pigeonholed": be put in a narrow category (in eine Schublade gesteckt werden)EXAMPLE: "I don't want to be pigeonholed as a sportsman. I also make music."

"zero dark thirty": the middle of the night (in aller Herrgottsfrühe)EXAMPLE: "They woke us up at zero dark thirty."

"be wrapped up in sth.": give all of one's attention to sth. (mit etw. ganz beschäftigt sein)EXAMPLE: "She was so wrapped up in her novel that she didn't hear us come in."

"read sb. the Riot Act": strongly express one's disapproval of sb.'s actions and deliver a warning (jmdm. die Leviten lesen)EXAMPLE: "He's pretty shaken up. The boss must have read him the Riot Act."

be on (an) equal footing": have the same status (gleichgestellt sein)EXAMPLE: "In a good relationship, both partners are on an equal footing."