1. Make one’s blood run cold – to be extremely frightened.
- e.g. When I was in an abandoned house with my classmates, I was terrified, the sound of wooden stairs made my blood run cold.
2. Play devil’s advocate – to present the other side of opinion even though you don’t support it.
- e.g. Stop playing devil’s advocate, share your true point of view towards this situation!
3. Dig one’s grave – to do something that really harms somebody.
- e.g. Stop digging your grave! Pull yourself together and give up smoking and drinking alcohol.
4. In cold blood – in a calm, cold-hearted way without showing any emotions.
- e.g. The serial killer murdered his victims in cold blood.
5. Ghost town – a town where few people live or completely empty abandoned or deserted town.
- e.g. The youtube videos about ghost towns are getting more and more popular.
6. To stab one in the back – to betray somebody who trusted you.
- e.g. I thought she was my best friend, but she stabbed me in my back.
7. Drop-dead gorgeous – somebody is extremely beautiful and attractive.
- e.g. Look at Jenny! She is drop-dead gorgeous in this red dress!
8. Like a bat out of hell – something/somebody is extremely fast.
- e.g. OMG! You came back like a bat out of Hell!
9. Spill your guts – to tell somebody all information about yourself, especially your problems and private life details.
- e.g. My friend Billy works as a barman and he jokes that his second job is psychologist as everyone comes and spills their guts about whatever’s bothering them.
10. Scared stiff – badly frightened.
- e.g. I was scared stiff when I was barely run over by the car.
11. Make one’s blood boil – to make somebody to become very angry.
- e.g. I try to be at home already at 9 p.m. in order not to make my dad’s blood boil.
12. Wouldn’t say boo to a goose – used to emphasize that someone is very shy.
- e.g. It can’t be him! He wouldn’t say boo to a goose, not to mention a public assault.
13. Witch-hunt – an attempt to find the people from a particular group and unfairly punish them.
- e.g. Stay away from the office, the boss gave out the witch-hunt against our department.
14. Over my dead body – it means that you disagree with something and you’ll do anything to prevent it.
- e.g. You’ll marry him over my dead body!
15. Skeleton staff – it is the smallest number of employees needed to operate.
- e.g. On Sundays, there is a skeleton staff in our office.
16. Scaredy-cat – somebody who is easily frightened.
- e.g. My little brother is a scaredy-cat, he is even afraid of his own reflection in the mirror.
17. Skeleton in the closet/cupboard – a secret that may cause embarrassment and inconvenience if somebody finds it out.
- e.g. Nowadays everyone has skeletons in the closet and you shouldn’t invade people’s privacy.
18. Thrilled to death – to be very pleased and excited.
- e.g. I can’t thank you more for such an amazing present! I’m honestly thrilled to death.
19. Scare the pants off sb – to shock, frighten, or terrify somebody.
- e.g. Don’t do this again! You’ve literally scared the pants off me.
20. A dead loss – an activity that is no longer successful.
- e.g. Jewelry trading is a dead loss nowadays as there is a big number of accessory shops with lower prices.
21. Whistle past the graveyard – to act or talk as if sb is relaxed and not afraid when he/she is actually afraid or nervous.
- e.g. They look confident or they just whistle past the graveyard.
22. The dead center – to be exactly in the middle of something.
- e.g. He is in the dead center of a traffic jam.
23. Getting under my skin – to make somebody annoyed or angry.
- e.g. Our new manager is getting under my skin, he’s always late to work.
24. Out for blood – looking to get revenge.
- e.g. He assaulted my sister, I’m going to have a talk with him and I’m out for blood!
- e.g. You will never win in a lottery, I can eat my hat!
26. A new broom – a new manager in a company that has been hired specifically to make changes and improvements.
- e.g. Tom is a new broom, you’d better get on well with him.
27. Go down a treat -to cause great pleasure, enjoyment, or happiness.
- This film went down a treat with me, so I watch it over and over again.
28. Give up the ghost – to stop trying to do sth because it’s clear that you will not succeed.
- All my work was pointless, so I’ve just given up the ghost
29. To be like taking candy from a baby - to be very easy
- To bake a cake is like taking candy from a baby for me.
30. Green-eyed monster - the feeling of being jealous.
- When she saw her husband with another woman, the green-eyed monster has taken over her and she decided to make a scandal when he returned home.
31. Final nail in the coffin - one more negative event or action that contributes to one failure.
- Firstly, her husband lost his job, then she hit her car and the fire in their house was the final nail in the coffin.