| food for thought | sth to think about |
| wheat sb's appetite | to make sb keen to taste/experience more of sth |
| at loos of words | unable to think of anything to say |
| cut corners | to use a cheaper easier method/ go through the motions |
| in full swing | at very lively stage/ point |
| pull a few string | to use influence to achieve sth |
| cannot hold a candle to | cannot be compared favourably with sb/sth |
| feast one's eyes | to look with pleasure at sth/sb |
| not to be sb's cup of tea | not to be one's taste |
| swap the bottom of the barrel | to be left with use the worst person/object |
| break the ice | to make sb relax/ to start conversation |
| in the soup | in trouble |
| cast pearls before swine | to offer sth good to sb who can not appriciate the value of it |
| it's no use crying over split milk | there is no use of regretting sth that has happened |
| sour grapes | negative attitude/ bitternes because of jealcusy |
| up to scratch | of the desired standard |
| be taken with a pinch of salt | to be doubted/considerated untrue |
| off colour | unwell |
| full of beans | very lively and energetic |
| going downhill | to get worse in quality/ healths |
| a shadow of my former self | weaker or less capable than one used to be |
| run out of steam | to loose energy that one had previously |
| touch and go | uncertain |
| hold one's own | to manage despite difficulties obstacles |
| griming from ear to ear | to smail broadly |