Showing 24 of 3,697 lessons.
cream of the crop
The best of a group
“These students are THE CREAM OF THE CROP”
crocodile tears
Fake or insincere sadness
“Don't be fooled by his CROCODILE TEARS”
cross that bridge when you come to it
Deal with a problem if and when it becomes necessary, not before
“We'll CROSS THAT BRIDGE WHEN WE COME TO IT”
cross your fingers
To hope for good luck
“Keep your FINGERS CROSSED for good news”
cry over spilled milk
To waste energy moaning about something that has already happened
“Don't CRY OVER SPILLED MILK”
cry over spilt milk
To complain about a loss from the past; to be upset about something that cannot be changed
“Don't CRY OVER SPILT MILK - it's done”
cry uncle
To admit defeat; to surrender
“He finally CRIED UNCLE”
cry wolf
To issue a false alarm, to ask for help when none is needed
“He CRIED WOLF too many times”
curiosity killed the cat
Being too curious or inquisitive can get you into trouble
“Don't ask too many questions - CURIOSTY KILLED THE CAT”
curry favor
To try to win someone's approval
“She's CURRYING FAVOR with the boss”
cut corners
To do something in the easiest, cheapest, or quickest way, often by ignoring rules or not doing it properly
“Don't CUT CORNERS with safety procedures”
cut it fine
To do something at the last moment
“They really CUT IT FINE”
cut it out
To stop doing something annoying
“Just CUT IT OUT with the complaining.”
cut off your nose to spite your face
To act in a proud way that ultimately damages your own cause
“Don't CUT OFF YOUR NOSE TO SPITE YOUR FACE”
cut someone some slack
Avoid treating someone strictly or severely
“CUT HIM SOME SLACK”
cut the mustard
To succeed; to come up to expectations; to be adequate enough
“He didn't CUT THE MUSTARD in the interview”
cut to the chase
To get to the point
“Let's CUT TO THE CHASE”
cut your losses
To stop doing something that's failing
“It's time to CUT YOUR LOSSES”
cutting-edge
Very novel, innovative
“It's CUTTING-EDGE technology”
dab hand
An expert or skilled person
“She's A DAB HAND at chess”
damned if you do damned if you don't
In a lose-lose situation
“I'M DAMNED IF I DO, DAMNED IF I DON'T”
damp squib
Something that fails to meet expectations
“The party was A DAMP SQUIB”
dark horse
A competitor or candidate about whom little is known but who unexpectedly wins or succeeds
“She's the DARK HORSE in this election”
dawn on
To become apparent to someone
“It DAWNED ON ME that we'd been forgotten.”