2000 Important idioms - Set 02

26. A cat and dog life

• Meaning: Full of fights.

• Sentence Usage 1: Their marriage was like a cat and dog life, with constant arguments and disagreements.

• Sentence Usage 2: Living with a difficult roommate made his college life a cat and dog experience.

27. A cat in gloves catches no mice

• Meaning: If you are too careful and polite, you may not obtain what you want.

• Sentence Usage 1: He realized that being overly cautious at work was like a cat in gloves catching no mice; he needed to be more assertive to achieve success.

• Sentence Usage 2: Sometimes, a cat in gloves catches no mice, and being direct is necessary to make progress in negotiations.

28. A cat's paw

• Meaning: Puppet.

• Sentence Usage 1: The ambitious advisor used the unsuspecting intern as a cat's paw to implement his own agenda.

• Sentence Usage 2: The manager realized that he had become a cat's paw in the power struggle within the company.

29. A chain is no stronger than its weakest link

• Meaning: An organization is only as strong or powerful as its weakest person.

• Sentence Usage 1: The coach emphasized the importance of team training, stating that a chain is no stronger than its weakest link.

• Sentence Usage 2: In project management, it's crucial to address the skills gap in the team as a chain is no stronger than its weakest link.

30. A chicken-hearted person

• Meaning: A coward.

• Sentence Usage 1: Facing challenges requires courage; being a chicken-hearted person won't lead to success.

• Sentence Usage 2: He was labeled a chicken-hearted person after backing out of the risky venture.

31. A chicken-hearted man

• Meaning: Cowardly person.

• Sentence Usage 1: The soldier was criticized for behaving like a chicken-hearted man during the battle.

• Sentence Usage 2: Don't be a chicken-hearted man; face your fears and confront the situation.

32. A child's play

• Meaning: Something very easy.

• Sentence Usage 1: For him, solving complex equations was a child's play; he excelled in mathematics.

• Sentence Usage 2: Programming became a child's play for her after attending the advanced coding workshop.

33. A chink in someone's armor

• Meaning: If someone has a chink in their armor, they have a weakness that can be taken advantage of.

• Sentence Usage 1: The negotiator carefully observed the opponent, looking for a chink in their armor that could be exploited during the discussion.

• Sentence Usage 2: A wise leader addresses the chinks in their team's armor to build a stronger and more resilient group.

34. A chip off the old block

• Meaning: If you refer to a person as a chip off the old block, you mean that they resemble one of their parents in appearance, character, or behavior.

• Sentence Usage 1: The son's leadership skills were a chip off the old block, reflecting his father's influential management style.

• Sentence Usage 2: She's a chip off the old block, inheriting her mother's artistic talent and creativity.

35. A chip on your shoulder

• Meaning: Being upset for something that happened in the past.

• Sentence Usage 1: His constant complaining about the past showed that he had a chip on his shoulder.

• Sentence Usage 2: Don't carry a chip on your shoulder; let go of past grievances and move forward.

36. A clean slate

• Meaning: A fresh beginning.

• Sentence Usage 1: After resolving their differences, they decided to start with a clean slate and rebuild their friendship.

• Sentence Usage 2: The new CEO aimed for a clean slate, implementing changes to improve the company's image.

37. A close shave

• Meaning: This expression is used to describe a situation where an accident or a disaster nearly happened.

• Sentence Usage 1: His quick reflexes saved him from a close shave with a speeding car.

• Sentence Usage 2: The emergency brake prevented a close shave as the train came to a sudden halt.

38. A close-fisted man

• Meaning: Miser.

• Sentence Usage 1: Despite his wealth, he was known as a close-fisted man, reluctant to spend money.

• Sentence Usage 2: Being a close-fisted man, he rarely contributed to charitable causes.

39. A cock and bull story

• Meaning: Fancy tale.

• Sentence Usage 1: His excuse for being late sounded like a cock and bull story; no one believed him.

• Sentence Usage 2: The detective dismissed the suspect's alibi as a cock and bull story.

40. A cog in the machine

• Meaning: An unimportant person.

• Sentence Usage 1: Although she felt like a cog in the machine, her role played a crucial part in the success of the project.

• Sentence Usage 2: Everyone in the organization is essential; no one should be treated as just a cog in the machine.

41. A cold-blooded murder

• Meaning: Merciless killing.

• Sentence Usage 1: The detective was determined to solve the case of the cold-blooded murder that shocked the community.

• Sentence Usage 2: The news of the cold-blooded murder spread fear throughout the neighborhood.

42. A cold reception

• Meaning: Halfhearted welcome.

• Sentence Usage 1: The new policy received a cold reception from the employees, who were not convinced of its benefits.

• Sentence Usage 2: Her arrival at the party was met with a cold reception, as many guests were unfamiliar with her.

43. A cold shoulder

• Meaning: Unceremoniously.

• Sentence Usage 1: After the disagreement, she gave him the cold shoulder, refusing to speak to him for days.

• Sentence Usage 2: His rude behavior led to a cold shoulder from his colleagues, impacting the team dynamics.

44. A cool head

• Meaning: Patiently.

• Sentence Usage 1: In times of crisis, it's essential to maintain a cool head and make rational decisions.

• Sentence Usage 2: Having a cool head during negotiations helped him navigate challenging situations with diplomacy.

45. A cry for the moon

• Meaning: To think of something impossible.

• Sentence Usage 1: Asking for a pay raise after just a month on the job is like a cry for the moon.

• Sentence Usage 2: Expecting a promotion without putting in the required effort is simply a cry for the moon.

46. A cry in the wilderness

• Meaning: An unheard appeal.

• Sentence Usage 1: His warnings about the environmental impact of the project were like a cry in the wilderness; no one paid attention.

• Sentence Usage 2: Advocating for social justice in a society that refuses to listen can feel like a cry in the wilderness.

47. A curtain lecture

• Meaning: Wife's tough talk.

• Sentence Usage 1: After the party, he received a curtain lecture from his wife about staying out too late.

• Sentence Usage 2: The husband received a curtain lecture for forgetting their anniversary.

48. A dark horse

• Meaning: An unexpected winner.

• Sentence Usage 1: In the competition, the underdog emerged as a dark horse, surprising everyone with their exceptional performance.

• Sentence Usage 2: The candidate was a dark horse in the election, winning over voters with unexpected charisma.

49. A day late and a dollar short

• Meaning: If something is a day late and a dollar short, it comes too late and is not good enough.

• Sentence Usage 1: Submitting the proposal after the deadline was a day late and a dollar short.

• Sentence Usage 2: Trying to apologize now is a day late and a dollar short; the damage has already been done.

50. A dead language

• Meaning: Out of use.

• Sentence Usage 1: Latin is often considered a dead language, no longer spoken as a primary means of communication.

• Sentence Usage 2: With the advent of technology, some traditional skills are becoming a dead language in modern society.