"I'd give my eye teeth for that."


This a fairly new expression (last Century) meaning that the person would be wiling to give up an important item such as the teeth needed for meat, the canines, to acquire a perceived valuable skill or item.

"Diamond In The Rough"...........



A person or thing with exceptional qualities or characteristics that cannot be seen from the surface

'Nothing To Write Home About".............


To be not especially remarkable or noteworthy; to be rather dull, mediocre, uninteresting, or unimportant.


Sidebar: I saw this in one of Gemme's post and it jogged my memory.....

"Green Eyed Monster" ..............


Jealousy; envy.


Sidebar: The phrase 'green-eyed jealousy' was used by, and possibly coined by, Shakespeare to denote jealousy, in The Merchant of Venice, 1596

"A Backhanded Compliment".............



A backhanded compliment is a remark which seems to be praising someone or something but which could also be understood as criticism. Ambiguous statement – one that can be taken as a compliment, but which might also be seen as an insult.

"Throw Cold Water On Something"............



To discourage or deter someone from doing something; to make something seem less appealing or reduce someone's enthusiasm for something.

"A Load Of Hogwash"..............


Worthless, false, or ridiculous speech or writing; nonsense.

"Be Worth Its/One's Weight In Gold"........


To be very valuable, important, or useful.

"Doesn't Have Two Pennies To Rub Together"..........



These expressions refer to being impoverished, destitute, or without resources, similar to "poor as a church mouse."

"Up In The Air".......




An expression meaning something or a situation is unclear or undefined"

Tap-dance Around"..............




An expression meaning to improvise to avoid confronting an uncomfortable issues or situations.

"Mind The Store"..............


To be responsible for making sure that nothing bad happens, especially during a time of change or when the person who is normally responsible is absent: In the short term.

"Odd Duck"..................



An unusual person, especially an individual with an idiosyncratic personality or peculiar behavioral characteristics. A rather unusual, strange, or peculiar person.

"Hit The Nail On The Head".............


To do exactly the right thing; to do something or describe a situation in the most effective and efficient way.

"Throw A Monkey Wrench Into" .............


Sabotage or frustrate a project or plans! To disrupt, foil, or cause problems to a plan, activity, or project.

"Nose Skin Off My Nose"...............



Something which means you do not care about it because it will not affect you.
If someone says it's no skin off my nose they mean they are not worried about something because it only affects or harms other people.

Sorry that should of read......No Skin Off My Nose

while we're talking skin.....


"Escaped X-situation by the skin of my teeth"

got away without a second to spare or barely got away

"Beat A Dead Horse"............


To continue to focus on something—especially an issue or topic—that is no longer of any use or relevance. An idiom that means to continue a particular endeavor is a waste of time as the outcome is already decided.

"Everything Except The Kitchen Sink".........



Nearly everything one can reasonably imagine; many different things, often to the point of excess or redundancy. To have a much larger number of things than is necessary. A very large number of things, whether needed or not.

"Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained"...........



Risks must be taken in order to achieve anything significant or meaningful: if you don’t take a risk, you won’t get a reward


Sidebar: The saying dates back to Chaucer (c. 1374) and is similar to the late fourteenth century French proverb: Qui onques rien n'enprist riens n'achieva (He who never undertook anything never achieved anything)

"Apple Doesn't Fall Far From The Tree"................



A child usually has a similar character or similar qualities to his or her parents.

"Have One Foot In The Grave" / "At Death's Door"



To be on the verge of death: very old and in ill health.

"Not The Brightest Crayon In The Box"........


A kinder way to say someone isn't very smart..

" Best-laid Plans"



Said when something ends poorly or differently than expected, despite preparations for success. It is an abbreviated version of "The Best-laid Plans Of Mice And Men Often Go Astray."

"Shoes On The Other Foot"..................



Literally wearing the right shoe on the left foot would be quite uncomfortable, and this notion is implied in this idiom, which suggests that changing places is not equally beneficial to both parties. The roles (of two or more people) have been reversed, especially roles that were the opposite of each other.

"Testing The Water"(s)...........


To informally or casually attempt to gauge the reaction of a potential audience or recipient of something, or to try to get an idea of what something will be like before actually doing it.

Likened to feeling the temperature of water before getting in.

"Time Will Tell".........


The true meaning, result, or outcome will only be known in the future or after more time has passed.

The fact that future events are unknown and that the outcome of a desired situation cannot be ascertained at the time until said future events unfold.

"Food For Thought". .....



If something is described as providing food for thought, it's worth seriously thinking about or considering. ... Anything that gives you a reason to stop and ponder is food for thought. Something that provides mental stimulus for thinking.

"Like A Dog With A Bone"..............



When someone just won't let go of an issue. To be fixated on a particular topic.

"Put (one's) Best Foot Forward"...........



To try to act as an ideal version of oneself, typically to try to impress others. To put your best food forward is to do your best or present yourself in the best possible way; to make the best impression you can.

" Don't Stumble Over Something Behind You".........


It's time to focus on the present and not the past or past mistakes. It's time to stop dwelling in a pit of despair, moaning over squandered time and lost opportunity. It's time to release the burden of the past and seize today's opportunity.

"To Fall On Deaf Ears".........



For talks, ideas, or suggestions to be ignored or disregarded by the persons they were intended for.

"A Day Late And A Dollar Short"........


Too late to be of any benefit.

"Take With A Grain of Salt"....................




To consider or evaluate something, such as a statement, while keeping in mind that it may not be completely true or accurate, typically due to the unreliability of the source.

"Fork In The Road"..........


A fork in the road is a point where you have to make a decision and choose which possibility you are going to stick with.

"In The Driver's Seat"...............




If you say that someone is in the driver's seat, you mean that they are in control in a situation. To be in a position of power.

"Save For A Rainy Day".............."Put Something Aside For A Rainy Day"



To reserve something, especially money, for use in a time or period of unforeseen difficulty, trouble, or need.

"Gone To The Dogs"...........


To deteriorate: something on the downgrade, something that is worse than it used to be.

"Get Someone's Goat"..............



To annoy or irritate someone.