Idioms Flashcards

What does 'steal someone's thunder' mean?

Answer: To upstage or take attention away from someone

'Steal someone's thunder' means to take attention or credit away from another person.

If you 'sit on the fence,' you are:

Answer: Avoiding taking a side in a disagreement

'Sit on the fence' means to remain neutral and avoid committing to a position.

'The last straw' in an idiom refers to:

Answer: The final problem that makes a situation unbearable

This comes from 'the straw that broke the camel's back,' meaning the final problem that causes a collapse.

What does it mean to 'go back to square one'?

Answer: To start completely over from the beginning

'Go back to square one' means to start a process over again from the very beginning.

If someone 'lets sleeping dogs lie,' they are:

Answer: Avoiding bringing up an old problem

This idiom means to avoid revisiting an old issue that could cause trouble if brought up again.

What does 'add fuel to the fire' mean?

Answer: To make a bad situation even worse

'Add fuel to the fire' means to worsen an already bad or heated situation.

'Bite the hand that feeds you' means to:

Answer: Be ungrateful or harmful toward someone who helps you

This idiom means to act against or harm the person or group that supports and helps you.