Phrazle Answer Archive

All Roads Lead to Rome

There is more than one effective way to do something; many different methods will produce the same result

Nothing to Write Home About

Unspectacular, ordinary

Birds of a Feather

People having similar characters, backgrounds, interests, or beliefs.

Chasing Rainbows

To pursue unrealistic goals

Does That Ring a Bell

Sound familiar

On the Mend

Be improving after an illness

Burn the Midnight Oil

Working late into the night

The Whole Enchilada

All of something.

One Foot in The Grave

To be near death (usually because of old age or illness)

Get My Hands Dirty

To do the unpleasant parts of a job

You Know the Drill

You are already familiar with the procedure.

Blow the Whistle

Reporting an illegal or unacceptable activity to the authorities

Window Dressing

A misleading disguise intended to present a favorable impression

Take a Hike

Go away

Speak of the Devil

The person we have just been talking about has entered.

Low Hanging Fruit

Easy parts of a task; solutions easy to obtain

Just for the Record

I would like to make it clear that …

Albatross Around My Neck

Something from one’s past that acts as a hindrance

Move Up in the World

Become more successful

All Fur Coat And No Knickers

Superficially attractive, physically or otherwise

Act Your Age

To be mature, not childish

Get With the Program

Figure out what everyone else already knows. Often used sarcastically, as a command

All Set

Ready, prepared, finished

Snake Oil Salesman

A useless medicine; a quack remedy; a product or measure promoted as a solution that really does nothing to help

Run into a Buzz Saw

Saw Encounter severe and unexpected problems

Five Finger Discount

Shoplifting

Acid Test

A crucial event that determines the worth of something

To Iron Out

To resolve

All Over But The Shouting

Certain to end in a specific way

Bet the Farm

Risk everything; spend all one’s money on something in hopes of success

Go Off The Rails

To go wrong, to begin acting strangely or badly

To Each His Own

People have different tastes.

the tip of the iceberg

a small part of a large problem

Penny Pinching

Frugal, avoiding expenses whenever possible