* AROUND THE BLOCK  *

A person who has been "around the block" has experience, because they have been to different places and done different things. Example: "Don't think you can fool me so easily: I have been around the block." You know more, because you have seen and done more, once you have been around the block. Example: "You kids are too young to fall in love: Wait until you have been around the block a time or two." We sometimes question the type of experience a person has had when they have been around the block. Example: "I would stay away from that man if I were you. He has been around the block."

* BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER *

People in the same family are related by blood and "blood is thicker than water" says that family ("blood") relations are more important than relations with friends. Example: "When my best friend and my brother got in a fight I had to help my brother; blood is thicker than water." "Blood is thicker than water" compares the thickness of blood (family relationship) to the thickness of water (friendships) and says that our family relations are more important ("thicker") than all others. Example: "Friends will come and friends will go but your family is always there for you; blood is thicker than water." Family relations (blood) are more important (thicker) than other relations (water) so "blood is thicker than water."

* BREAK THE TIE *

Under the rules of a game, a score is tied when both sides have won the same number of points. A tie is broken when something happens that gives the final victory to one side or the other. After a tie is broken, the contest is no longer considered a tie since one side has won and the other has lost. "Whoever wins in Florida will have enough votes to break the tie." The party that breaks the tie is the winner.

* BURNING THE CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS *

You are burning the candle at both ends when you are working long hours without resting. Example: "Would you like to go to a party tonight?" Reply: "I can't. I'm way too tired. I've been burning the candle at both ends all week."

Your energy is burning down, and you are growing more and more tired, when you are burning the candle at both ends. Example: "Are you still working day and night?" Reply "Not anymore. Now I work nine hours a day, and I get a good sleep almost every night. No more burning the candle at both ends."

Burning the candle at both ends is not a healthy life because you are working from early to late and not getting enough rest. Example: "Ever since this new project started I have been burning the candle at both ends. I can't take much more of it."

* BURNING THE MIDNIGHT OIL *

You are "burning the midnight oil" when you are working hard late into the night. Example: "I could see the light in your window last night. It looks like you have been burning the midnight oil." Before they had electric lamps, people used oil-burning lamps to read or work in the darkness at night. When you are working very hard until late at night you are "burning the midnight oil." "Has your son been working hard to prepare for his final exams?" Reply: "He sure has. He's been up each night burning the midnight oil

"can't cut the mustard"

When you are not able to perform at the required level, you can't cut the mustard. Example: "Did you hear that Williams got fired?" Reply: "Yes. He couldn't cut the mustard."

It is as if cutting "the mustard" were some test that you had to pass in order to belong. If you can't cut the mustard, you are not allowed to participate. Example: "Bob dropped out of medical school." Reply: "Why?" Answer: "He just couldn't cut the mustard."

If you don't work hard enough, or if you just aren't good enough, you can't cut the mustard. Example: "So, do you think you will be able to cut the mustard?"

"go cold turkey"

You go cold turkey when you suddenly stop taking a drug which you had been taking regularly. Example: "Did it take you a long time to quit smoking?" Reply: "No. I just went cold turkey, and I never smoked again."

Smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol are habits that can cause problems for people. People go cold turkey when they want to immediately stop the problems an addictive drug is causing. Example: "I want to quit drinking right now. As of this moment, I am going cold turkey."

Going cold turkey is when you stop taking some habit forming drug (such as smoking or drinking) by stopping completely, all at once. It can be uncomfortable ("cold") at first, even painful, for a person to go cold turkey. Example: "My doctor gave me morphine for pain after the surgery, but he gave me less each day so I would not need to go cold turkey."

"crying over spilled milk"

To cry over spilled milk is to remain upset about a past loss. Example: "We came so close. Really. We almost won that game!" Reply: "There's no use crying over spilled milk."

When milk has been spilled, it is wasted and cannot be used. There is no reason to keep complaining over the loss. Note that either of the words spilled or spilt can be used. Example: "Well, the car is ruined and that's too bad, but there's no use crying over spilt milk. We're just going to have to get a new car."

Crying over spilled milk is not useful because the thing is already lost. Parents often tell their children to stop crying over spilt milk. Example: "I can't believe we lost my favorite toy!" Reply: "Oh, stop crying over spilled milk. You have other toys to play with."

"crying wolf"

To cry wolf is to call for help when you are not really in danger. Example: "Mom, Dad! Can you come to my room? I think there is something under my bed!" Reply: "Son, you just go back to bed, and stop crying wolf."

There is a story about a boy who liked to cry "Wolf!" pretending that he was going to be eaten by a wolf. When people came running to help him, they found the boy laughing because he was not really in danger. This happened a number of times until people stopped believing him when he cried, "Wolf!" Finally, the boy was attacked by a real wolf and no one came to save him because they all thought he was just crying wolf. Example: "I'll be in the other room, so call me if you need me. But no crying wolf."

To cry wolf is to call others for help when you do not really need help. Crying wolf results in other people not believing you when you really do need their help. Example: "Hey that kid on the other team fell down. He looks hurt." Reply: "Oh, not that kid. He's always crying wolf."

"dog-eat-dog"

Dog-eat-dog describes a world in which people fight for themselves only and will hurt other people. Example: "I have been in this business for twenty years. It's dog-eat-dog. The competition is always trying to steal your customers."

Dog-eat-dog means that a person is like a dog that will eat another dog. Sometimes people say, "It's a dog-eat-dog world", as an excuse when they have hurt another person. Example: "I can't believe you sold him your motorcycle for so much money!" Reply: "Hey, it's a dog-eat-dog world."

It's a dog-eat-dog world means that you must first watch out for your own interests, because other people will be watching out for theirs. There is no letter s at the end of any of the words in dog-eat-dog. "Example: "That school is dog-eat-dog. The students cheat and even destroy each other's work to get better grades."

"everything but kitchen sink"

Everything but the kitchen sink is what you brought with you when you included almost everything you could think to bring. Example: "Wow, your suitcase is huge. What do you have in there? Everything but the kitchen sink?"

When we we are deciding what to bring with us, we try to take everything possible. But some things, like the kitchen sink, are just not convenient. Example: "Every time we go camping my wife packs everything but the kitchen sink."

Everything but the kitchen sink means that you included almost everything you could think to include. Example: "My dad's new luxury car is great. It has everything but the kitchen sink."

"dry spell"

A "dry spell" originally refers to a period of time when there is no rain. Example: "We've been having quite a dry spell lately; it hasn't rained in over two weeks." Likewise, to have a "dry spell" is to go through a period of time when one is not getting something that one wants. Example: "Sam is a great salesman, though lately he's been having a bit of a dry spell." Even the best professional atheletes have "dry spells"; periods of time when they don't play as well as they usually do.

"flash in the pan"

A "flash in the pan" is success which begins suddenly and ends so quickly that it is like a "flash" of fire "in the" frying "pan". Example: "That was a great paper you wrote. Was it just a flash in the pan? or are you going to be able to do it again and again?" A person who is a "flash in the pan" rises to success suddenly and disappears just as quickly. Example: "What a great first year he had, but after that... nothing!" Answer: "Just another flash in the pan."

"get over it"

When you recover from some physical or emotional state, you get over it. Example: "I was very sick yesterday, but I have gotten over it."

When something is bothering you, it is like an obstacle that is in your way, and you need to get over it. Example: "How are things with Jane?" Reply: "Actually we broke up last month. But I have already gotten over it."

You get over something when you are no longer affected by it. Example: "I just can't stop thinking about what she said." Reply: "Don't worry, you'll get over it." Another example: "Oh, just get over it."

"head over heels"

When a person's body flips over in such a way that the heels (of the feet) coming flying up over the head, we say that they have gone "head over heels". Example: "He was running so fast that when he jumped and got hit he went head over heels." When a person falls in love, it can also make a them feel dizzy (in the "head") and out of control. Example: "I've never seen him like this before!" Answer: "Yes, he's completely head over heels about her." You fall "head over heels in love" with someone when you think about that person all of the time and feel almost dizzy when they are around. Example: "I have been head over heels about my girlfriend since the day I met her."

"in(s) and out(s)"

In and out is the way you know something when you know it very well. Example: "I've been in this business for 30 years. I know it in and out." Example: "I know this city in and out."

When you add the s and say the ins and outs, you are talking about the special ways that you know to do something, when you know it very well. Example: "I hope you can help me. I want to learn the ins and outs."

Grammar point: In and out acts like an adverb ("I know this in and out"). The ins and outs acts like a noun ("Teach me the ins and outs"). Example: "My friend Jeff has worked in publishing for 15 years. He knows all the ins and outs."

"in the doghouse"

You are "in the doghouse" when you have done something which has made someone angry. Example: "You kids will be in the doghouse with your mother after that mess you made in her garden!" A dog who has misbehaved may be put on a leash and forced to stay in the doghouse. A person who is "in the doghouse" [with someone] has likely done something to anger that person and will have to face some kind of punishment.

"labor of love"

A "labor of love" is something that you do because of love or because you love to do it. Example: "They always want to pay me for the work I do at the hospital, but I will never accept their money. I do it because it is a labor of love." "Labor" is work that we do and we don't always care for our work, but a labor of love is labor we do because we love dong it, or we do it for someone we love. Example: "My Dad took care of his mother for many years and kept her comfortable even after she became very sick; it was a real labor of love." Even the most difficult task seems easy to us when they are a "labor of love."

* NECK AND NECK *

Neck and neck refers to the state that two competitors are in when they compete evenly in a race. We can imagine two people running in a race side by side barely "necking" ahead of each other. Both of them strain to stick their heads forward as the first one to cross the finish line is the winner.  "They're coming around the final corner. They're neck and neck!"

* ON THE FENCE *

One who is facing a choice but is "on the fence" has not decided what choice they will make. Example: "Which school do you prefer?" Answer: "I don't know; I'm on the fence." You are on the fence when you have not yet decided. Example: "Has he decided whether he will take the job yet?" Answer: "No, he's still on the fence." You are on the fence until you commit yourself and make a decision.