up a gum tree
Meaning: If you're up a gum tree, you're in trouble or have a serious problem.
just the ticket
Meaning: You can say something is just the ticket if it's the perfect thing or if it's exactly what's needed.
pay through the nose
Meaning: If you pay through the nose for something, you pay more than the usual price for it.
feather your own nest
Meaning: If you feather your own nest, you use your position or your job illegally for personal gain.
the new kid on the block
Meaning: If you are the new kid on the block, you are the newest person in a workplace or in an educational institute, or any other place or organization.
on the one hand | on the other hand
Meaning: You can say "on the one hand" before describing one of two contrasting ideas, options, or opinions, and then say "on the other hand" before describing the other one.
easy as pie | easy as abc
Meaning: If something's as easy as pie, or easy as abc, it's very easy.
bark up the wrong tree
Meaning: If you're barking up the wrong tree, you're looking for something in the wrong place or going about something in the wrong way.
pay the price
Meaning: You pay the price for doing something when you experience the unpleasant results of doing it.
up a gum tree
Meaning: If you're up a gum tree, you're in trouble or have a serious problem.
a wolf in sheep's clothing
Meaning: A wolf in sheep's clothing is someone who seems to be a good person but is really a bad person.
can't see the forest for the trees
Meaning: If you can't see the forest for the trees, you can't see the whole situation clearly because you're looking too closely at small details, or because you're too closely involved.
hot under the collar
Meaning: If you are hot under the collar, you feel angry or annoyed about something.
a means to an end
Meaning: You can say something is a means to an end if it's the way to reach a goal, or the way to achieve something.
make ends meet
Meaning: If you make ends meet, you earn just enough to pay for a place to live and your daily expenses.
yellow-bellied
Meaning: If someone is yellow-bellied, they are not brave, or they are cowardly.
go over your head
Meaning: If someone goes over your head, they go to someone with more authority than you in order to get something that you would normally grant, possibly because they think you won't give it to them.
sick as a dog
Meaning: If you're as sick as a dog, you're very sick.
the gift of the gab | the gift of gab
Meaning: If you've got the gift of the gab, or the gift of gab, you have the natural ability to talk in a way that people find entertaining or persuasive.
young at heart
Meaning: Someone is young at heart if they still feel young even though they're getting old.
make ends meet
Meaning: If you make ends meet, you earn just enough to pay for a place to live and your daily expenses.
paint the town red
Meaning: If you paint the town red, you visit bars, nightclubs and other nightspots to have a good time.
put the brakes on
Meaning: If you put the brakes on something, you stop it or slow it down.
a drop in the bucket
Meaning: If an amount is a drop in the bucket, it's a very small portion of the amount that's needed.
do someone's dirty work
Meaning: If you do someone's dirty work for them, you do something unpleasant for them because they don't want to do it for themselves.
keep it under your hat
Meaning: If someone tells you a secret and you keep it under your hat, you don't tell anyone.
nip it in the bud
Meaning: If you nip something in the bud, you stop a problem from becoming serious by dealing with it as soon as you notice it.
damned if you do and damned if you don't
Meaning: If you say "damned if you do and damned if you don't" you're saying that no matter what someone does, they'll be criticised for it.
jump out of your skin
Meaning: You jump out of your skin when something suddenly shocks you and your whole body jumps.