Showing 24 of 3,697 lessons.
blue-eyed boy
A person who is liked very much and is treated well by someone, especially someone in authority
“He's THE MANAGER'S BLUE-EYED BOY”
blueprint for success
A detailed plan for achieving success
“They're calling this THE BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS, apparently.”
bob's your uncle
It means finished or everything is settled
“Just add the ingredients and BOB'S YOUR UNCLE”
body and soul
Completely; with all one's energy
“She devoted herself BODY AND SOUL to the cause”
bone to pick
A subject or issue that you want to discuss with someone because you are angry about it
“I have A BONE TO PICK with you”
born with a silver spoon in one's mouth
To have a high social position and be rich from birth
“He was BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON IN HIS MOUTH”
bosom friend
A very close or intimate friend
“She's been my BOSOM FRIEND since we were at school together.”
boys in blue
A humorous name for the police
“Here come THE BOYS IN BLUE”
bread and butter
The main source of income
“Freelance design is her BREAD AND BUTTER”
break a leg
Good luck (usually said to performers before they go on stage)
“BREAK A LEG, I suppose.”
break new ground
To do something innovative or pioneering
“The study BREAKS NEW GROUND in cancer research”
break the bank
To cost too much or spend more than you can afford
“That car will BREAK THE BANK”
break the ice
To start a conversation in a social situation to make people feel more comfortable
“I told a joke to BREAK THE ICE”
bright and early
Very early in the morning
“We'll leave BRIGHT AND EARLY”
bring home the bacon
To earn a living
“She BRINGS HOME THE BACON”
bring someone to book
To punish someone or make them accountable
“They must be BROUGHT TO BOOK for this.”
bring someone to heel
To make someone obey you
“Management's determined to BRING US TO HEEL.”
brouhaha
A noisy and overexcited reaction
“The announcement caused A BROUHAHA”
brown-nose
To try too hard to please someone, especially someone in authority, in a way that other people find unpleasant
“Stop BROWN-NOSING the boss”
brush aside
To dismiss or ignore something
“She BRUSHED ASIDE my concerns”
brush off
To reject or ignore someone rudely
“He BRUSHED ME OFF when I asked for help”
brush under the rug
To hide something; to ignore a problem
“Don't BRUSH IT UNDER THE RUG”
budget for something
To plan to spend money on something
“We BUDGETED FOR a new car next year”
buffet something
To hit something repeatedly; to strike
“The ship was BUFFETED BY waves”