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Neck and neck
The phrase neck and neck means very close, with no clear winner. It is often used to describe two choices, or two sides of a competion.The origin is horse racing, where two horses that are very close are described as neck and neck.
The two teams were neck and neck until the end.
Needle in a haystack
The idiom a needle in a haystack means something very hard to find. It is used when you mean an impossible task to find something.This idiom draws from the literal image of a needle hidden in a haystack, which if you think about it is something that is very very hard to find.
Finding the right file felt like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Nip it in the bud
To nip something in the bud means to stop it early before it gets bigger and becomes more of a problem. This is often used to reference stopping an emerging bad habit.This idiom comes from gardening, where you can nip off the buds on plants to direct which way they will grow.
Your puppy is chewing the furniture, you'd better nip that in the bud.
No pain, no gain
The idiom No pain, no gain means that you must endure hardship or effort (pain) to achieve success or improvement (gain). This phrase arose from gym culture in the 1980s, and can be applied to a number of everyday situations.He believed that working very hard would pay off. No pain, no gain!
Nose to the grindstone
The phrase nose to the grindstone means to work hard.It originates from the literal hard work of sharpening tools on a grinding wheel, where workers who were sharpening knives had to bend close to the stone to work.
Similar idioms are back to the grindstone or the daily grind and are all variations on this idiom.
Well, lunch is over, better go back and put my nose to the grindstone.
Not the end of the world
The idiom not the end of the world means a problem is not as bad as it seems. Life will continue and things can improve. It is often used to comfort someone - any problem anyone has is surely less than the entire world ending!You missed the bus, but it’s not the end of the world.
Not the sharpest tool in the shed
Not the sharpest tool in the shed or not the sharpest knife in the drawer is a euphemism for saying someone is not very smart.He's not the sharpest tool in the shed, but he works hard.
Off with the fairies
To be away with the fairies means you are distracted, daydreaming or not paying attention.She's meant to be studying, but I think she's away with the fairies.
On the fence
If you are on the fence you cannot decide what side of an argument or decision you are going to take. It comes from a literal description of someone on a fence between two properties. This idiom is used to represent indecision.She was on the fence about changing jobs.
One born every minute
The idiom there's one born every minute or there's a sucker born every minute is a way of saying there is a neverending supply of fools or victims, constantly being born.It is something you say when you see someone being tricked or scammed.
You really fell for that? There's one born every minute!