Phrazle Answer Archive

Buy a Pig in a Poke

To buy something with no prior inspection

Fifteen Minutes of Fame

Temporary renown

The Only Game in Town

The sole option for a particular service.

Throw Me for a Loop

Deeply surprise someone; catch someone off guard

Follow In My Footsteps

Follow the example laid down by someone else; supplant

Tough Cookie

A very determined person

Twenty Four Seven

At any time

A Vicious Circle

A situation in which an attempt to solve a problem makes the original problem worse.

Cross to Bear

A problem one must deal with over a long time, a heavy burden

Go Bonkers

To be or become wild, restless, irrational, or crazy; to act in such a way

Saving Grace

Something that redeems a bad situation

Cool Your Jets

Wait

Ballpark Figure

A rough estimate

The Time of Your Life

If you have the time of our life, you enjoy yourself very much.

Throw in the Towel

To give up, admit defeat

Steal My Thunder

Upstage someone

Run a Tight Ship

Manage an organization in a strict, well-regulated way

When Pigs Fly

Never

Fly by the Seat of My Pants

To improvise, to make decisions without planning or preparation

Rob Peter to Pay Paul

Pay off a debt with another loan; solve a problem in such a way that it leads to a new problem

Pot Calling the Kettle Black

Accusing someone of something of which you are also guilty; being hypocritical

Sink or Swim

Fail or succeed

Show Your Cards

Reveal your resources or plans

A Change of Heart

A change in one’s opinion or outlook

Backseat Driver

Someone who likes to give (often annoying) advice to the driver of a car, or the leader of some other enterprise

Through Thick and Thin

In good times and bad

Turn Turtle

Capsize, turn over

Young at Heart

Having a youthful outlook, regardless of age

Dead as the Dodo

Completely extinct; totally gone

Stand Your Ground

Refuse to back down; insist on one’s position

Neck and Neck

Very close in a competition, with neither of two entities clearly in the lead

Sacred Cow

An individual or organization that one cannot criticize

Play Your Cards Right

Exploit a situation to your best advantage

Take the Gloves Off

Negotiate in a more aggressive way

Give Them The Old Heave Ho

Fire someone, remove someone from a group or team

Keep Your Nose Clean

Avoid trouble or situations that compromise one’e honesty

Living on Borrowed Time

Following an illness or near-death experience, may people believe they have cheated death

Pep Talk

An encouraging speech given to a person or group

Time is Money

time is valuable, so don’t waste it.

Push the Envelope

Go beyond common ways of doing something, be innovative

Clip My Wings

Reduce someone’s privileges or freedom

Nine Times Out of Ten

Almost always

Window Shopping

To look at merchandise in a store without intending to buy it

Rear Its Ugly Head

Appear, be revealed

Mad as A Hatter

Mentally ill, psychotic

Give it a Whirl

Attempt something without being totally familiar with it

Put Your Foot Down

Use your authority to stop negative behavior

Bang for Your Buck

Value for money