Today's Idioms Flashcards
to eat humble pie
to admit your error and apologize
after his candidate had lost the election, the boastful campaign manager had to eat humble pie
a pig in a poke
an item you purchase without having seen; a disappointment
the mail order bicycle that my nephew bought turned out to be a pig in a poke, and he is now trying to get his money back
a flash in the pan
promising at the start but then disappointing
the rookie hit many home runs in spring training, but once the season began he proved to be a flash in the pan
to pour oil on troubled waters
to make peace, to calm someone down
when I tried to pour oil on troubled waters, both the angry husband and his wife stopped their quarrel and began to attack me
the sword of Damocles
any imminent danger
although the president of the company seemed quite secure, he always complained that there as a sword of Damocles hanging over his head
pyrrhic victory
a too costly victory (King Pyrrhus defeated the Romans but his losses were extremely heavy)
In heavy fighting the troops managed to recapture the hill, but it could only be considered a Pyrrhic victory
a wet blanket
one who spoils the fun
everyone wanted the party to go on, but Ronnie, the wet blanket, decided to go home to bed
to beard the lion in his den
to visit and oppose a person on his own grounds
having decided to beard the lion, I stormed into the manager’s office to ask for a raise
crocodile tears
insincere tears (crocodiles were said to cry while eating their prey)
when the football player broke his leg, his substitute wept crocodile tears
to carry the day
to win the approval of the majority
the secretary’s motion that we adjourn for lunch carried the day, and we headed for the restaurant
