Explanation of Idioms Used in the Story:

1. In the doldrums – in a state of inactivity or sadness

2. Go to seed – to decline or deteriorate
3. Not worth a fig – not valuable or important
4. Wipe the slate clean – to start over or make a fresh start
5. Batten down the hatches – to prepare for a difficult situation
6. Hold your horses – to wait or be patient
7. Cut the Gordian knot – to solve a difficult problem with a bold action
8. Pass the buck – to avoid responsibility by passing it to someone else
9. Run the gauntlet – to endure a series of troubles or difficulties
10. Ride roughshod over someone – to treat someone without care or consideration
11. Jump the gun – to act too quickly without preparation
12. Nail your colors to the mast – to declare your beliefs firmly
13. In the catbird seat – in a position of control or advantage
14. Throw down the gauntlet – to issue a challenge
15. Dark horse – a little-known person or thing that emerges to prominence
16. Keep your powder dry – to be ready for action
17. Turn the tables – to reverse a situation
18. Cold comfort – consolation that does little to help
19. Eat crow – to admit you were wrong
20. Paint the town red – to celebrate wildly
21. Burn the candle at both ends – to overwork yourself
22. Bite the bullet – to endure a painful situation
23. Burn the midnight oil – to work late into the night
24. Fly in the ointment – a small problem that ruins something
25. Bump in the road – a small problem in a bigger process
26. Roll with the punches – to adjust to difficult situations
27. Turn over a new leaf – to make a fresh start
28. Salt of the earth – a good, honest person
29. Whistling in the dark – to try to stay brave when you are afraid
30. Make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear – to create something good out of something bad
31. Bed of roses – an easy, comfortable situation
32. The die is cast – a decision has been made, and there’s no turning back
33. A flash in the pan – Something that shows promise or looks good initially but fails to
deliver long-term results.
34. Break the ice – To initiate conversation or activity in a socially awkward situation.
35. Bury the hatchet – To make peace after an argument or fight.
36. Cloak and dagger – Activities involving secrecy and mystery, often concerning
espionage or deceit.
37. Cut the mustard – To meet the required standard or expectations.
38. Dog in the manger – Someone who prevents others from enjoying something even
though they have no use for it themselves.
39. Fly off the handle – To lose one's temper suddenly and unexpectedly.
40. Foaming at the mouth – To be extremely angry or furious.
41. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread – Inexperienced people tend to take risks that
wiser people avoid.
42. Go to the dogs – To deteriorate or fall into disrepair or ruin.
43. Hold your horses – To be patient or wait before taking action.
44. In a pickle – To be in a difficult or tricky situation.
45. Keep your powder dry – To be ready for action but not use your resources prematurely.
46. Let the cat out of the bag – To reveal a secret or disclose confidential information by
mistake.
47. Once in a blue moon – Something that happens very rarely.
48. Paint the town red – To go out and enjoy oneself in an extravagant and lively way,
usually involving drinking and partying.
49. Play second fiddle – To be in a subordinate position or overshadowed by someone else.
50. Red herring – Something that is misleading or distracts from the real issue.
51. Steal someone’s thunder – To take credit for someone else's achievements or ideas.
52. Throw in the towel – To give up or quit, often after persistent effort
53.  Bite the bullet – To face a difficult or unpleasant situation with courage and
determination.
54.  Cold comfort – Something that provides little consolation or encouragement in a
difficult situation.
55.  Dark horse – Someone who unexpectedly achieves success or shows talents that were
previously hidden.
56.  Eat crow – To admit that you were wrong and apologize, often with embarrassment.
57.  Feather in your cap – An accomplishment or achievement that one can be proud of.
58.  Grasp the nettle – To confront a difficult or unpleasant situation head-on.
59.  Harp on the same string – To keep talking about the same thing in a tedious or
repetitive manner.
60.  In the doldrums – Feeling depressed, bored, or stuck in a period of inactivity or
stagnation.
61.  Jump the gun – To act prematurely or make a decision before the appropriate time.
62.  Knee-jerk reaction – A spontaneous and automatic reaction, often made without
thinking carefully.
63.  Make a mountain out of a molehill – To exaggerate a minor issue and make it seem
like a bigger problem than it really is.
64.  Nail your colors to the mast – To publicly show your support for a cause or belief,
even if it’s risky.
65.  No spring chicken – Someone who is no longer young, often implying that they’re
not as youthful or energetic as they once were.
66.  Out of the woods – To be free from danger or difficulty, though not entirely safe yet.
67.  Pass the buck – To shift responsibility or blame onto someone else.
68.  Put the cart before the horse – To reverse the proper order of things or do something
in an illogical sequence.
69.  Queer the pitch – To spoil someone’s plans or chances of success.
70.  Ride roughshod over someone – To treat someone with disrespect or to dominate
them in a heavy-handed manner.
71.  Salt of the earth – A person who is considered kind, reliable, and of good moral
character.
72.  The die is cast – A decision has been made that cannot be changed, with fate now
determining the outcome.

73. Down in the dumps: Feeling sad or depressed.

74. End of the world: A situation that feels like a disaster, though it’s not as bad as it seems.
75. Keep his chin up: Stay positive in a difficult situation.
76. Up a creek without a paddle: In a difficult situation without an easy solution.
77. Killing time: Doing something while waiting for something else to happen, often to pass
the time.
78. Bumped into: Met someone unexpectedly.
79. On cloud nine: Extremely happy.
80. Lend him an ear: Listen to someone sympathetically.
81. Hitting rock bottom: Reaching the lowest point in one’s life.
82. Roll with the punches: Adapt to difficult circumstances without being defeated.
83. Bump in the road: A small problem or obstacle.
84. Wrap his head around: Understand something that is challenging or confusing.
85. Take the bull by the horns: Face a problem head-on with confidence.
86. Turn over a new leaf: Make a fresh start or change one’s behavior for the better.
87. Burning the midnight oil: Working late into the night.
88. Look up: Improve or get better.
89. Rolling in his court: When the responsibility or opportunity is in someone's hands.
90. 180-degree turn: A complete change or reversal of one’s situation or attitude.
91. Kick in the pants: Something that motivates or forces someone to act.
92. Bed of roses: A comfortable, easy situation.
93. Make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear: Turn something bad or ugly into something
valuable or beautiful.
94.