She couldn't stand being yelled at by her boss but couldn't afford to quit and lose her job either. She was stuck in between a rock and a hard place.

He was stuck in between a rock and a hard place when his two best friends were fighting over him. He couldn't choose one over the other since he loved the both of them.

My mother was stuck between a rock and a hard place when she had to choose either my brother or me to keep.

To have to choose between two bad choices.

To pick a side where the outcome will still be bad.

Stuck between a rock and a hard place

She picked the brightest apple out of the patch only to find that there was a worm on it. She told herself to never judge a book by its cover again.

I was disappointed when I saw the outside of my new home, but I was amazed at the living room as I went inside. You can't judge a book by its cover.

The waitress lowly spoke to the underdressed man, not knowing that he is the owner of a well-known company. She shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

The appearance of something shouldn't be part of your reason for doing something.

You won't know the true value of something just by looking at it.

To assess someone based on solely how they look is insensible.

Outward appearance doesn't determine someone's worth.

Don't judge a book by its cover

People all around me have tried the paleo diet. I jumped on the bandwagon as I already cut out the foods required for it.

She hated that singer in the past, but now that the artist is gaining more recognition, she decided to jump on the bandwagon by changing her opinions.

The contestants learned that the past winners have always bribed the judges to win, so they decided to jump on the bandwagon.

I know that many people are doing it, but it doesn't mean that it's okay. I beg you not to jump on the bandwagon.

To join an activity that has become very popular.

Change your opinion of one activity so that you can share in its success.

Join others in doing something fashionable or successful.

Jump on the Bandwagon

The student hit the nail on the head when he answered a vague question asked by the professor. It was the only response the professor was looking for.

It would be best if you went to her for help. She hits the nail on the head every time on any problem!

Thank you, you've found just the right thing for me. You truly hit the nail on the head!

To specifically describe the correct situation of a problem.

Hit the nail on the head

I know there is a huge possibility that you might get the promotion, but you shouldn't spend too much money yet. Don't count your chickens before they hatch.

She decided to walk the remainder of the race as soon as she couldn't see her opponents, not knowing that they would appear a few seconds later, beating her in the last moment. She counted her chickens before they hatched.

I had an amazing interview yesterday! I truly believe that I will get the job which will help me buy the watch that I've wanted for a long time. I want to buy it right now, but the job is not guaranteed. I shouldn't count my chickens before they hatch.

That dress is perfect for the talent showcase, but you shouldn't buy it right now since there is no information if you have gotten in yet. Don't count your chickens before they hatch.

Do not count on something that hasn't happened yet.

Don't expect to get everything you want until you have them.

Don't count your chickens before they hatch

You will be biting more than you can chew if you accept another task while you haven't finished your first.

I realized that I bit off more than I could chew when I assured to complete the painting in one day.

If you keep this up for longer, you will bite off more than you can chew.

By handling all these situations at once, he is clearly biting off more than he could chew.

Try to do more than an individual is able to do.

Promise something that one cannot fulfill.

Strive to do something which is hardly achievable.

Biting off more than you can chew

She bit the bullet when she realized there was no way out of this situation.

I'll bite the bullet without a complaint when I face my consequences.

She bit the bullet by running into the collapsing house to save her child.

A time might come when you have to bite the bullet yourself.

To be brave and face a difficult situation.

Undergo an unpleasant encounter to get it over with.

Avoid showing pain in an unwanted situation.

Bite the bullet

I noticed he was beating around the bush, so I asked him directly what he wanted.

We cannot beat around the bush any longer about this topic, or else we would never get it over with.

I don't understand what you're saying when you keep beating around the bush; I need you to tell me exactly what's on your mind.

The candidates were beating around the bush, so I knew that something was up and that they couldn't be reliable.

Beat around the bush

Don't bark up the wrong tree, I was not the one who started this problem.

You will be barking up the wrong tree if you continue to focus on this issue. Focus on solving it instead.

He misled all of us, making us believe he was innocent, so we were all barking up the wrong tree. 

They were ashamed of themselves when realizing they were barking up the wrong tree this whole time.

Waste one's efforts by going on the wrong path

Putting in ineffective attempts by doing the wrong thing

Accidentally going on the opposite path in something you are trying to achieve.

Barking up the wrong tree

All we can do now is depend on Mackenzie when she goes up to present the project. The ball is in her court.

I've sent out my friend to complete the duty since neither of us is able to. The ball is completely in her court.

After auditioning, my part is done, and the ball is in the judge's court. All I can do now is just wait for her decision.

I missed my chance when the ball was in my court, and now I lost everything.

The Ball is in your court

I guess I chose the wrong formula for this equation, so I'm back to the drawing board.

He wasn't feeling the design, so he suggested that we go back to the drawing board to change it.

The only way to fix this is to go back to the drawing board since we messed up at the beginning.

I have to go back to the drawing board since I realized that I used the wrong material for this experiment.

Start again on a plan after the failure of an earlier attempt.

Back to the first step after failed results.

Back to the drawing board

She seems like a person who would be down to do anything at the drop of a hat.

I can't just cancel all my plans and fly all the way to her place at the drop of a hat.

She won't give up at the drop of a hat, especially after all her hard work.

He would quit his job at the drop of the hat if he won the lottery.

At the drop of a hat

You can't just tell your siblings how to act. You have to set yourself as a good role model and act it out yourself. Actions speak louder than words.

She always complains about how there are many abandoned pets in shelters yet never even considered adopting one. Actions speak louder than words.

It will be easier if the coach actually demonstrated what we should do rather than only describing it. I believe we would understand the idea of it more clearly. After all, actions speak louder than words.

The student begged the teacher to hand in the late assignment that night. It has been three weeks, and nothing has been handed in. The teacher talked with the student and told him that actions speak louder than words.

Your actions are more important than your words.

What you do is more significant than what you say.

Doing something is better than only speaking about it.


Actions speak louder than words

You have been quiet for a while, a penny for your thoughts.

For several minutes they sat in silence; finally, she said, "A penny for your thoughts."

Noticing that he was a little distant, I eventually said, "A penny for your thoughts."

Said when you want to know what another person is thinking, usually because they have been quiet for a while.

A way of asking what someone else is thinking.

A request to somebody who is lost in consideration to share his or her thoughts.

A penny for your thoughts

The issue of gun control is a political hot potato in the United States.

The legality of abortion is a hot potato in many countries around the world.

I never discuss about anyone`s religion, it can be a hot potato.

The party members are not speaking on this topic as it is a political hot potato.

The government`s decision to curb benefits to some sections of society is like a hot potato.

any subject which several folks are talking about and which is frequently argued

something that is hard or terrible to handle

a ​problem or ​situation that is ​difficult to ​deal with and ​causes a lot of ​disagreement

an issue or question about which people have different opinions and feel very strongly

a controversial situation that is awkward to deal with

a delicate or contentious matter which many people do not want to talk about

A Hot Potato

Understand common phrases with examples! These are the most used idioms, provided with pictures, meanings, and references to quickly comprehend and remember. 

English Idioms with Meanings & Examples