Chapter 20

Question 1

busman’s holiday

Answer 1

holiday spent in an activity the same as, or similar to, ones occupation, as a bus driver who takes his family for a Sunday drive

Question 2

come home to roost

Answer 2

have disagreeable repercussions; boomerang

Question 3

Dutch treat

Answer 3

meal or entertainment for which each participant pays his or her own share

Question 4

eat crow

Answer 4

be forced into a humiliating or extremely disagreeable situation

Question 5

fish or cut bait

Answer 5

proceed wholeheartedly or drop out altogether; stop procrastinating or temporizing

Question 6

french leave

Answer 6

unauthorized, hasty, or secret departure

Question 7

have an ax to grind

Answer 7

have a selfish motive or ulterior purpose to promote

Question 8

hold a candle to

Answer 8

compare favorably with

Question 9

hold water

Answer 9

remain sound, logical, or consistent; stand up

Question 10

lame duck

Answer 10

elected official who remains in office for a brief period after a successor has been elected.

Question 11

pay the piper

Answer 11

suffer the unfavorable consequences of ones actions

Question 12

play possum

Answer 12

pretend to be dead or asleep; dissemble

Question 13

play the devil’s advocate

Answer 13

uphold the wrong side of a cause for the sake of argument

Question 14

poker face

Answer 14

expressionless face, as that of an experienced poker player

Question 15

red herring

Answer 15

something used to distract attention from the real issue

Question 16

roll out the red carpet

Answer 16

show impressive courtesy

Question 17

stick in one’s craw

Answer 17

be intolerable and unacceptable to one

Question 18

stick to one’s last

Answer 18

keep to one’s own trade or field

Question 19

whistle in the dark

Answer 19

put on a show of confidence in the face of impending danger or defeat; try to keep up one’s courage

Question 20

white elephant

Answer 20

possession entailing expense and trouble far greater than its usefulness to the owner