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A Long Shot
The idiom a long shot means something that is unlikely to succeed. There is a small chance it might work, but most people do not expect it to.The phrase is from the earlier days of firearms, where targets far away were hard to hit as older guns did not have as long a range as modern ones.
Winning the competition was a long shot, but she entered anyway.
Leading the charge
The phrase lead the charge is a military term, referring to a leader of a forceful advance against an enemy in battle. The person leading the charge needed courage and the ability to rally the troops.Today this term refers to a person taking a bold and enthusiastic leadership role in a new venture.
The new manager led the charge on integrating the new technology into the workplace.
Leap of faith
To take a leap of faith is to do something when you only believe in it, you have no physical proof.It originally meant that true religious faith was beyond logic and reason, but today is used to mean taking a risk in daily life.
Our boss took a real leap of faith merging with that new startup.
Leave no stone unturned
The idiom leave no stone unturned means to search everywhere and try every option. If you tell someone this, it means you want them to check thoroughly.They left no stone unturned in the search.
Let off steam
The phrase blow off steam or let off steam means to release strong feelings like anger or stress, or to get rid of pent up energy. People might say this when they go to the gym, or if they have bored children inside they take them to the park to blow off some steam.This idiom came from the time of steam engines, when there was a pressure buildup you had to let some steam out.
He went for a long run to blow off steam after work.
Light at the end of the tunnel
The phrase the light at the end of the tunnel means hope after a long or difficult time. It suggests that problems will eventually end. This idiom is derived from the feeling you get after travelling underground for a long time and finally seeing the light that means you are about to come out the other end.After months of work, we could see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Lightning never strikes twice
The idiom lightning never strikes twice means that if something very unlucky (or very lucky) happened to someone once before, it is very unlikely to happen again. This refers to the odds of being struck by lightning being already very low, and being struck twice is even lower again.Why are you buying a lotto ticket? You won last year, you know lightning never strikes twice.
Like chalk and cheese
Two things are like chalk and cheese if they are completely different. If you have ever tried to eat chalk as well as cheese, you would know how different they are!My brother and I are like chalk and cheese, it's like we are not even from the same family.
Like two peas in a pod
Two people are like two peas in a pod if they are very similar, either in looks or behaviour. A similar idiom is cut from the same cloth.You two are like peas in a pod.
Lipstick on a pig
To put lipstick on a pig means you are making superficial or cosmetic changes to something that is fundamentally broken or unattractive, to make it more appealing. It likens it to putting lipstick, something that would normally make people more attractive, onto a pig which is generally seen as messy and unattractive.Why are you building such a fancy porch on your old house? That's like putting lipstick on a pig!