Break every rule in the book. If you behave in a completely unacceptable way, you break every rule in the book. e.g. “Our competitors obtained the contract by breaking every rule in the book. ”Carrot and stick -If someone offers a carrot and stick, they offer an incentive to do something combined with the threat of punishment. e.g. The president took a carrot and stick approach to the protests against his new laws.
Chime in –if you chime in, you interrupt or join a conversation, especially to repeat or agree with something. e.g. ’As I explained to the bus driver what had happened, the other passengers chimed in and gave their version.’
Couch potato - A couch potato is an extremely idle or lazy person who chooses to spend most of their leisure time horizontal in front of the TV and eats a diet that is mainly junk food. e.g. "My brother a couch potato."
Mouse potato –the term refers to a person who spends a lot of time in front of the computer. e.g. “My son and his friends are all mouse potatoes –constantly glued to the computer!”
Dance attendance (on somebody)- if you dance attendance on someone you are constantly available for that person and attend to their wishes. e.g. ‘She is rich and famous and expects everyone to dance attendance on her.’
At the drop of a hat –If you do something at the drop of a het you do it immediately and without hesitation. e.g. “I’ve got great friends .They are ready to help out at the drop of a hat.”
Follow one’s nose If you follow your nose, you go straight ahead(Also: follow your instinct in life.) e.g. “The station is at the end ofthe road,just follow your nose".
Follow in someone's footsteps- if you follow in someone's footsteps( a parent) you lead a similar life or do the same job. e.g."Lily followed in her mother's footsteps and became a teacher".
Go too far-if you go too far,you do something that is considered extreme or unacceptable.e.g. "Stealing is bad,but stealing from a poor person is really going too far".
Go to pieces- If you go to pieces, for example after a terrible shock you are so upset or distressed that you cannot lead your life normally. e.g."Jack nearlly went to pieces when his son died in a plane crash".
Kill two birds with one stone-If you kill two birds with one stone,you succeed in doing two things at the same time. e.g. "By studying on the train on the way home every week-end, Claire kills two birds with one stone".
Like a thief in the night- someone who acts like a thief in the night does something secretly or in an unexpected manner. e.g. "He left the company like a thief in the night,without telling his colleagues or saying goodbye".
Make a mountain out of a molehill- if someone makes a mountain out of a molehill, they make a small,unimportant problem seem much more serious than it is. e.g."Stop making mountains out of molehills! It's not a major problem".
Take to something like a duck to water-if you take to something like a duck to water, you do it naturally and easily, without fear orhesitation. e.g." When Sophie first tried skiing,she took to it like a duck to water".
Not turn a hair- If the person does not turn a hair,he shows no emotion in circumstances when a reaction is expected. e.g."When the police came to arrest him, he didn't turn a hair".
Your wish is my command! This is a humoristic way of saying that you are willing to do whatever the other person asks. e.g. "Breakfast in bed?Your wish is my command!"
