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Chip on your shoulder
To have a chip on your shoulder means feeling angry or resentful and ready to argue, often because of a past slight.The phrase comes from an old practice where someone placed a chip of wood on their shoulder and dared others to knock it off to start a fight.
He came into the meeting with a chip on his shoulder and challenged every suggestion.
Cleanliness is next to Godliness
The saying that cleanliness is next to Godliness means that keeping yourself and your surroundings clean is seen as a sign of good character. The idiom links physical cleanliness with moral behavior.The idea appeared in English writing several centuries ago and later became a well known proverb. Religious teachers often repeated it when encouraging orderly habits.
My grandmother always said cleanliness is next to Godliness while making us tidy our rooms.
Clear the air
To clear the air means to talk openly about a problem or misunderstanding so that people feel better and the tension is reduced.The expression comes from the literal idea of cleaning smoke or bad smells out of the air so it becomes fresh again. By comparison, honest discussion can remove tension or confusion from a situation.
We sat down after the argument to clear the air.
Close but no cigar
Close, but no cigar originated from carnivals where a cigar was the prize for winning a game of skill. If you lost, they would say "close, but no cigar!" and it grew to be a phrase that meant coming very close to something, but not quite reaching the goal.She got 99/100 on the test. Close, but no cigar!
Close to home
The phrase close to home or hits close to home means something affects you personally. You may relate to it so closely that it makes you feel emotional or uncomfortable.Her words hit close to home.
Clutching at straws
Clutching at straws means trying anything possible in a desperate situation, even if it is unlikely to work.The phrase comes from the image of a drowning person grabbing at straws, which cannot support their weight.
With no strong evidence left, the lawyer was clutching at straws.
Come back to bite you
If something comes back to bite you it means that something a person did earlier causes trouble or problems later. It is often used when a careless or dishonest action has consequences in the future.The expression comes from the image of an animal biting someone after being disturbed.
Ignoring the small repairs on the house eventually came back to bite you.
Come hell or high water
Come hell or high water means that someone is determined to do something no matter what happens. It shows strong determination and the idea that nothing will stop a person from reaching their goal.The words suggest that even a fire or a flood would not stop someone from reaching their goals, and is used to describe situations where people keep going even when things become very hard.
She said she would finish the marathon come hell or high water.
Cost an arm and a leg
The idiom cost an arm and a leg means something is very expensive. Your arms and legs are very valuable - you need them to do things! The phrase also means to exaggerate the price of something.The concert tickets cost an arm and a leg.
Cover all the bases
To cover all bases means making sure every important detail has been considered so nothing is missed.The phrase comes from baseball. Fielders protect each base so a runner cannot advance safely.
Before launching the product, the team checked the plan again to cover all bases.