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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.
A lot on your plate
To have a lot on your plate means having many tasks, responsibilities, or problems to deal with at the same time, so many it may be overwhelming.The idiom compares responsibilities to food piled on a plate. If a plate is already full, it is hard to add anything more without making a mess.
She has a lot on her plate this week with exams, work, and family visits.
A penny for your thoughts
The idiom a penny for your thoughts is a way to ask people what they are thinking about. You'd ask this if someone has been sitting looking quiet, or like they are daydreaming.This dates back to the 1500s, when a penny was worth a lot more than it is now.
You've been staring out the window for half an hour now. A penny for your thoughts?
A piece of cake
The idiom a piece of cake means that something is very easy to do. It suggests that the task requires little effort or skill. People often use this phrase after completing a job that turned out to be simpler than expected.The quiz was a piece of cake for her.
A problem shared is a problem halved
A problem shared is a problem halved means that talking about a problem with someone else can make it feel easier to deal with.The saying has been used in English for many years as a piece of everyday advice. It reflects the idea that support, understanding, or practical help from others can reduce the burden of a difficult situation.
She finally told her friend what was worrying her, remembering that a problem shared is a problem halved.
A rolling stone gathers no moss
A rolling stone gathers no moss means that someone who is always moving from place to place does not settle down or collect responsibilities or possessions.The saying has been known in English since the 1500s and appeared in a collection of proverbs by John Heywood in 1546. The image compares a stone that keeps rolling with one that stays still long enough for moss to grow on it.
He has lived in five different cities in ten years, a rolling stone gathers no moss.
A stitch in time saves nine
The saying a stitch in time saves nine means that fixing a small problem early can prevent a much bigger problem later. It comes from sewing, where repairing a small tear quickly can stop it from becoming a large rip that needs much more work. The phrase is used as advice to encourage people not to delay important tasks.He fixed the leak straight away, knowing a stitch in time saves nine.
A storm in a teacup
The idiom a storm in a teacup means making a big fuss about a small problem. The reaction is much bigger than the situation deserves. The original form of this idiom dates back to ancient Roman times and was "a tempest in a ladle", so people have been comparing overblown reactions to putting huge storms in tiny containers for a very long time now.The committee meeting ended up being a storm in a teacup.
A watched pot never boils
If you say a watched pot never boils, you mean that something seems to take much longer when you are waiting for it to happen. If you walk away from the pot and make yourself busy with something else, the water feels like it boils much faster.I've been sitting by the window all day waiting for this delivery. A watched pot never boils!
A wolf in sheep's clothing
The idiom a wolf in sheep's clothing describes someone who seems kind or harmless but is actually dangerous or dishonest. It warns people not to trust appearances.This idiom comes from an old story where a wolf dresses up as a sheep to sneak into the flock and eat the sheep.
We thought he was here to help, but he was really a wolf in sheep's clothing.