[tuyetvan]

Actions speak louder than words .... (It’s better to actually do something than just talk about it)



I am going to work for an NGO in Africa fighting climate change. Actions speak louder than words.

[tuyetvan]

Add fuel to the fire .... (Whenever something is done to make a bad situation even worse than it is)



Don’t mention the product delay in the meeting. You are just adding fuel to the fire.

[tuyetvan]

A penny for your thoughts ... (When you want to know what somebody is thinking)



Why are you staring at the sky? A penny for your thoughts!

[tuyetvan]

Ball is in somebody’s court ... (It is up to somebody to make the next decision or step)



I have laid out my plan. The ball is in your court now.

[tuyetvan]

Barking up the wrong tree ... (Look in the wrong place or accuse the wrong person)



I’m not responsible for this mess! You are barking up the wrong tree.

[tuyetvan]

Be a good catch .... (Be someone worth marrying/having)



Donald is such a good catch. I hope, he’ll propose soon.

[tuyetvan]

Beat around the bush.... (Avoid the main topic or not speak directly about the issue)



Don’t beat around the bush! We can have an open discussion here.

[tuyetvan]

Bend over backwards ... (Do whatever it takes to help. Willing to do anything)



Our company is bending over backwards to satisfy our customers.

[tuyetvan]

Bite off more than you can chew ...  (Take on a task that is too big)



You bit off more than you can chew. You are never going to finish the presentation on time.

[tuyetvan]

Blow somebody away .... (Be extremely impressed by something)


The product demo just blew me away. I’ve never seen such a powerful software.

[tuyetvan]

By the skin of your teeth .... (You only just succeeded and nearly failed)


I hadn’t studied much, but passed the test by the skin of my teeth.

[tuyetvan]

Couldn’t care less ... (Have a total lack of interest in something)



I couldn’t care less what my new co-workers think of me.

[tuyetvan]

Cry over spilt milk ... (Complain about a loss from the past)


There’s no way to win back this customer. Don’t cry over spilt milk.



'Spilt' used to be the mainly accepted past tense and past participle form of 'to spill'. However, over time, the usage has moved to the more standardized form of adding 'ed' to a verb to form the past tense or past participle: spilled

[tuyetvan]

Cry wolf ... (Call for help when you don’t need it) ... used as a verb



My new co-worker is constantly crying wolf.

[tuyetvan]

Crunch time .... (The period of time just before a project has to be completed and everyone has to work hard)


I’m not getting much sleep these days, because it’s crunch time at work.