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Blood from a stone
The phrase you can't get blood from a stone means to try and get something out of someone who is unwilling or unable to give it, usually referring to money.I can't pay this bill, I have too many bills already, do they think they can get blood out of a stone?
Break the ice
To break the ice means to do or say something that helps people feel more relaxed when they first meet or when a situation feels awkward. It is commonly used in social situations, meetings, or group activities. The phrase originated from breaking the ice around a ship so it can start to sail.She told a friendly joke to break the ice.
Breath of fresh air
The idiom a breath of fresh air means a person or a thing that is a refreshing change.Our new hire is a breath of fresh air in our office.
Breeding like rabbits
The phrase breeding like rabbits refers to the rabbit's ability to breed at an astonishing rate. People use this idiom when they talk about something that suddenly is around in large numbers, whether it is another animal that is literally breeding, or something that is figuratively breeding, like unfinished jobs or odd socks.How do you have so many shoes? They must be breeding like rabbits!
Bring Home the Bacon
The phrase bring home the bacon means to earn money for your family. It can also mean achieving success.This idiom dates back to when bacon and other goods were used as payment for work.
She works hard to bring home the bacon.
Bull in a china shop
You might be called a bull in a china shop if you are being careless or reckless in a situation that you can cause damage. It might mean someone who is physically clumsy or has tactless behaviour.He came into the meeting like a bull in a china shop and ruined all our negotiations.
Burn the midnight oil
The phrase burn the midnight oil means to work late into the night. It comes from a time when oil lamps were used for light. People use this idiom to describe studying or working long hours to finish something important.She burned the midnight oil to finish the report.
By the skin of your teeth
The phrase by the skin of your teeth means barely succeeding. It could also mean to narrowly avoid disaster.Your teeth have no skin on them, so this idiom is drawn from the impossible measurement of how thick the skin on your teeth is. A similar impossible idiom is rare as hen's teeth.
I caught the bus by the skin of my teeth.
Call it a day
To call it a day means to stop working on something for now. It suggests that enough has been done and it is time to rest or continue later. This idiom is often used at the end of work or study.They finished the job and called it a day.
Calm before the storm
The phrase the calm before the storm means a quiet time before trouble begins. Things may seem peaceful right now, but a big change is coming. This idiom derives from the phenomenon where there is often a spell of quiet weather right before a storm hits.The in-laws are going to be here in an hour but everything is already clean and ready, so now it is the calm before the storm.