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Cut off your nose to spite your face
The idiom cut off your nose to spite your face means to do something that disadvantages yourself when you try and punish someone else. It is an act of self-sabotage to spite someone else.She crashed her car on purpose so her boyfriend would stop borrowing it without asking. Didn't she cut off her nose to spite her face?
Cut to the chase
The idiom cut to the chase means to get to the main point without wasting time. It comes from early films where the chase scene was the most exciting part. People use this phrase when they want direct information.Please cut to the chase and explain the problem.
Dark horse
The idiom dark horse means a ordinary seeming person or thing that is not expected to succeed, but surprises everyone by doing very well.The saying comes from horse racing, where an unknown horse could unexpectedly win.
She was a dark horse and ended up winning the contest.
Devil is in the details
The phrase the devil is in the details means small details can cause big problems if they are ignored. Something may look simple at first, but the tricky parts are often hidden so you should pay attention to the details.This idiom was originally "God is in the details" meaning thoroughness is Godly, but evolved to emphasise the opposite, that not caring about the details invoked the devil.
The idea sounded easy, but the devil was in the details.
Different ball game
The idiom it's a different ball game or it's a whole new ball game means that something is quite different from what was previously expected. It compares to sports, where two ball games may have entirely different rules.Your last job was in a small business, here at this international company it is a whole new ball game.
Dig in your heels
The idiom dig in your heels means to refuse to change your mind or to stubbornly resist. It means to stand your ground even when others push you. The origin is the literal image of planting your heels in the ground so you cannot be moved.When asked to apologize, he dug in his heels and said no.
Dig your own grave
The phrase dig your own grave means to cause your own failure by your own actions. It is used when someone makes choices that lead to trouble later. The origin of this idiom is macabre and a literal image of digging your own grave.By lying again, he dug his own grave.
Dip your toes in
The phrase dip your toes in means to try something in a small, careful way before doing it fully. It often describes starting gently because you are unsure.The idiom comes from the literal action of dipping your toes into a body of water to check the temperature before you get into it to go swimming.
She dipped her toes in coding by making a small game.
Dodged a bullet
The idiom to dodge a bullet means to narrowly avoid something that could have very bad results. It is often used to describe avoiding bad outcome such as a bad relationship, a bad job or a financial loss.Good thing you didn't buy that stock, it crashed overnight - you dodged a bullet!