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Don't put all your eggs in one basket
The phrase don't put all your eggs in one basket means don't risk everything on one plan - if that plan fails, you could lose everything. If you were carrying eggs in a basket and dropped the basket, all the eggs could break. It has come to mean advice to be open to alternatives, or to diversity investments instead of relying on only one thing.He bought shares in many different companies so he didn't put all his eggs in one basket.
Down a rabbit hole
To go down a rabbit hole means to become deeply involved in something, often following one idea after another until you lose track of time.It comes from the story Alice in Wonderland, where Alice falls down a rabbit hole and enters a strange and confusing world.
I only meant to read one article, but I went down a rabbit hole and spent three hours researching medieval architecture.
Drop like flies
The phrase drop like flies means many people or things fall or stop working one after another. It is often used for people getting sick or for items breaking quickly. The expression comes from seeing flies fall after being sprayed with insect spray.Half the class caught the flu and started dropping like flies.
Eager beaver
An eager beaver is a person who is very enthusiastic and ready to work hard, sometimes more than others expect. It is often used for someone who quickly volunteers to help or take on extra tasks.The phrase comes from the beaver, an animal known for working hard to build dams and lodges. Because beavers are seen as busy and industrious, the expression became a way to describe a very eager worker.
She was an eager beaver and finished the project early.
Every man and his dog
Every man and his dog means almost everyone or a very large number of people. The phrase is often used when something becomes extremely common or widely done.The saying appeared in British English in the 1800s. It exaggerates the image of so many people showing up that they even bring their dogs along.
Don't feel so special, every man and his dog has a phone that can do that.
Feather your nest
To feather your nest means to use a position of power or opportunity to gain money or advantages for yourself, often in an unfair or dishonest way.The expression comes from the way birds line their nests with feathers and soft materials to make them comfortable. The phrase compares this to someone quietly making their own situation more comfortable.
The official was accused of feathering his nest with public funds.
Fighting like cats and dogs
To be fighting like cats and dogs means to be arguing or fighting constantly. It describes a relationship between people who just don't get along.The phrase comes from the long-standing image of cats and dogs as natural rivals. Because their clashes were seen as noisy and chaotic, the expression became a way to describe frequent arguments.
The two brothers were fighting like cats and dogs during the whole car trip.
Fly in the ointment
A fly in the ointment is a small problem that spoils something that is otherwise good. It describes a situation where one annoying detail ruins an otherwise positive plan or experience.This idiom is based on the idea of a fly falling into a jar of ointment or cream. Even though the ointment is useful, the fly contaminates it and makes the whole thing unpleasant.
The cake for the party looked perfect, but the misspelled name on top was a real fly in the ointment.
Frog in your throat
If you say you have a frog in your throat it means that your voice sounds rough or croaky, often because your throat is dry or irritated. You might need to cough to clear your throat.This expression has been used since the 1800s as a humorous way to describe the strange, croaking sound a person's voice can make when their voice is not working properly.
I had a frog in my throat during the whole presentation this morning.