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To give the green light
To give the green light means you are giving permission for something to happen. It usually means a person in authority is approving something.This idiom draws from traffic lights.
Our manager gave the green light for our new marketing campaign.
Too hard basket
The too hard basket is part of a metaphorical filing system where you put tasks that are too hard and you'll do later. People often say this when they give up on something.He put organising the garage into his too hard basket.
Too many cooks spoil the broth
Too many cooks spoil the broth or in modern times, shortened to too many cooks means that if too many people are involved in something, it actually hinders the process.This proverb came from a story where soup was being cooked, and everyone in the house remembered separately that it needed to have salt added. Once every one of them had added some salt, the broth was too salty and was inedible.
Every time I try and do something on this project, someone else gives me a different answer and I can't get anything done. Too many cooks spoil the broth!
Under the hood
Under the hood means something that is hidden under the surface of a complex system. If you need to look under the hood of something you are investigating its internal workings.This idiom is used most commonly to talk about hidden details of a system, software or an organization. It draws from the image of opening a car's hood to look at the engine.
Under the hood, it is running linux.
Upset the apple cart
You upset the apple cart when you ruin someone's plans, or disrupt the normal operation of something.This idiom came from the literal image of a cart of apples being tipped over at the markets, causing chaos and disruption.
We were going to hold the party outdoors, but a storm came and really upset the apple cart.
Use your head
If you tell someone to use your head or use your noggin it means they should think clearly and rationally about something instead of making impulsive or emotional decisions.Use your head before making that choice.
Variety Is the Spice of Life
The idiom variety is the spice of life means doing different things makes life more interesting. It came from a poem written in 1785 by English poet William Cowper, who wrote "Variety's the very spice of life, That gives it all its flavour". This phrase means that new experiences make life more fun and interesting, like spices add flavor to food.She travels often because variety is the spice of life.
Water under the bridge
The idiom water under the bridge draws from the concept of water flowing under a bridge, and once it has gone past it will never go past again. When you use this phrase, you are talking about events or feelings that are now in the past and cannot be changed, so you shouldn't dwell on them anymore.The two neigbours decided to let their past disagreements be water under the bridge.
Weight lifted from your shoulders
When you have a weight lifted off your shoulders you have a great sense of relief that a stressful situation has ended or a burden has lifted.This idiom is drawn from the literal feeling of relief when you put down a heavy load that you are carrying.
My friend gave me a small loan, and a weight was lifted from my shoulders.
When in Rome
The idiom when in Rome, do as the Romans do means that when you are a visitor, either to another country or just someone else's house or working in their business, you should adapt to how everyone behaves and try and fit in as a mark of respect.Everyone else was taking their shoes off, so when in Rome, do as the Romans do.