1. Two people who go their separate ways after meeting by chance
   Two people who fall in love and get married
2. Two people who board separate ships
   Two people who fight constantly

The phrase "two ships passing in the night" is an analogy for two people who have met by chance. They then go their own separate ways, like ships that pass by each other.

1. Don't try at all.
   Put 100% effort in something.
2. To jump over a fence
   To put in a half-effort in something

If someone tells you to "swing for the fences," they want you to give 100% of your best effort. This phrase is often used in sports competitions.

1. To aim accurately at something
   To not lie, cheat or steal
2. To take a chance on something that may not be successful
   To put in your best effort

Here's an example of how this phrase is used: If person A says "Who won the Super Bowl last year," Person B might say "OK, shot in the dark here, but I think it was the Patriots." "A shot in the dark" is used to guess or take a chance on something that is probably not going to be right.

1. Scaredy-cat
   Hail mary
2. Runaway
   Scot-free

To go unpunished from a situation means that you are "scot-free." This can also be referring to jail time, custody or a potential punishment from your parents.

1. A proposition that is being implemented
   A failed hypothesis
2. Achieving two tasks at the same time
   Dropping a piece of rubber on the road

"When the rubber hits the road" means that a proposition or an idea is being implemented. This is often used for newfound hypotheses.

1. She hates flies.
   She is a vegetarian.
2. She is too gentle to hurt anyone.
   She is too aggressive.

Flies are often a nuisance, so if someone "wouldn't harm a fly," it means that they are too kind to not only hurt flies, but anybody. This is often used to signify how kind and gentle a person is.

1. Someone who likes to sleep a lot
   Someone who doesn't feel valued
2. Someone who feels hungry
   Someone who is pretentious

Someone who doesn't feel as valued as someone else may use the expression, "What am I, chopped liver?" The food "chopped liver" is an analogy for feeling like just another "side" item.

1. Not too much
   Nothing at all
2. The whole thing
   Just a little bit

"The whole nine yards" refers to the "whole" of something. So if I say "I want the whole nine yards of this turkey," that means I want all of the turkey.

1. Actually sitting on a fence
   Indecisive
2. A great decision-maker
   Ignorant

"Sitting on the fence" means that someone is indecisive. In other words, the person can't make up their mind on a decision.

1. People may be allergic to wool.
   Don't talk badly about people.
2. Don't back stab others.
   It's wrong to make people think that you like them (when you really don't).

The common phrase, "Don't pull wool over other people's eyes" means to not make people think that you like them. The phrase is also used to tell someone that they are being deceptive.

1. My dad is a wonderful person.
   My dad rarely comes around.
2. My dad is a liar.
   My dad is a thief.

"Once in a blue moon" refers to the rarity of a situation. So if I say that my dad only comes around once in a blue moon, I'm saying that it's rare that he pays a visit.

1. You are rocking back and forth too much.
   You're a very polite person.
2. You look hungry.
   You're acting stupid or crazy.

Someone who is "off their rocker" is someone who is not behaving appropriately. This often means that they are acting stupid, crazy or childish.

1. "Method to the madness"
   "Off the rocker"
2. "Not playing with a full deck"
   "Not a spark of decency"

To "not play with a full deck" means that someone is not thinking very intelligently. This can refer to their overall intelligence or to a particular situation.

1. Somebody who is decent in nature
   Somebody who is impolite
2. Somebody who is professional
   Somebody who can't read

Somebody who does not have a "spark of decency" means that they are not a very polite person. This also refers to a lack of manners.

1. Not bother something or someone
   Don't wake up the dogs, as they may bark.
2. Don't talk too much.
   Don't talk so loud.

"Let the sleeping dogs lie" means to not bother someone or something. This also means to just let something be, and to not disrupt it.

1. Are being disrespectful
   Heard gossip about a situation
2. Heard the grapevine blow in the wind
   Revealed secret information

If you "heard something on the grapevine," it means that you heard gossip or secretive information about a situation. This can refer to both true or false kinds of information.

1. Bad days are only temporary. Good days will come soon.
   All clouds have a silver outline to them.
2. Actions speak louder than words.
   You're not acting appropriately.

"Every cloud has a silver lining" is an optimistic way of saying that, "Good days will come soon." This is often acknowledging that the bad times are current, but that they will pass.

1. The building is too crowded.
   Everyone should evacuate the building.
2. The show is over.
   There will be an encore.

"Elvis has left the building" means that the show is over. This also means that a situation is over, which does not necessarily have to refer to a show.

1. Ignorant
   Successful
2. Drunk
   Rude

To be successful means that someone "cut the mustard." For example, if I say that John "cut the mustard in the race," it means that he was successful in the race (and probably won).

1. Having a hard time with two choices
   Stuck in a single predicament
2. Hungry for success
   A failure in life

To be "caught between two stools" means that someone is being indecisive with two choices. Both choices are typically of equal importance to cause such indecisiveness.

1. Afraid to ask for help
   Able to accomplish all of the required tasks
2. In need of more tasks to do
   Trying to attempt a task of high responsibility or difficulty

Trying to attempt a task of high difficulty or responsibility means that you are "trying to bite off more than you can chew." This can also refer to multiple tasks, not just one.

1. It refers to a trendy topic.
   Don't try and juggle too many tasks.
2. You can prevent quite a bit of headache down the road if you solve an issue now.
   Mind your manners.

"A stitch in time saves nine" means that you can prevent quite a bit of headache down the road if you solve an issue now. This is another way of saying, "Don't procrastinate."

1. You have the authority for your own decisions and actions.
   Time feels slower when you attentively wait for something to happen.
2. Time flies when you're having fun.
   You shouldn't procrastinate.

If you ever have the time to stand around and literally watch a pot of water boil, it will feel as if it's taking forever. This is an analogy for how time feels slow when we attentively wait for something to "boil" or something to happen.

1. Philosophical
   Trendy
2. False
   Meaningless

A trendy topic might also be referred to as a "hot potato." For example, headlines of trendy news articles are considered to be "hot potato" articles.

1. The new kid is not very good at socializing.
   The new kid hates fish.
2. The new kid is making friends quickly.
   The new kid doesn't look comfortable with his/her environment.

When you take a fish out of water, the fish is uncomfortable and foreign to its new environment. This is an analogy for a person who looks lost or uncomfortable in a certain situation.

1. To look fat
   To have a clear complexion
2. To look very fit
   To look well-fed

The phrase "fit as a fiddle" means that someone looks very fit. It can also be used to say that someone looks healthy.

1. To be wealthy
   To express joy
2. To express sadness
   To express rage

If someone is "foaming at the mouth," it means that they are expressing rage. The anger that is expressed is usually of a very high degree.

1. My belt is too loose.
   My remarks were well-said.
2. My remarks were impolite.
   My remarks were compliments.

If my remarks were considered to be too impolite, you might say something like, "Your words hit me below the belt." This is typically used to express vulnerability and feeling offended.

1. You are feeling happy.
   Your shoulder is fractured.
2. You're holding a grudge that still makes you upset.
   You have low self-esteem.

If someone is holding a grudge that still makes them upset, it means that they have a "chip on their shoulder." This can also refer to a regret.

1. You're acting unprofessional.
   I understand what you're saying.
2. I don't speak Greek.
   I don't understand what you're saying.

"All Greek to me" doesn't necessarily refer to the Greek language. Rather, it means that you don't understand what someone is trying to tell you.

1. Relentless bull
   Bull with three horns
2. Bull in a china shop
   Barking dog

"Bull in a china shop" refers to someone who is very clumsy in nature. This person may also have a habit of damaging surrounding items.

1. Are suspicious of someone or something
   Smell something foul
2. Don't like rats
   Are easily fooled

Feeling suspicious of a particular situation or of a person means that someone "smells a rat." The "rat," or person in such a case, is usually lying and deceptive in nature.

1. You don't look very healthy.
   You are easily fooled.
2. You're not in a good financial spot.
   You were caught red-handed.

"In the red" refers to a person's financial situation. The phrase is usually used for someone who has depleted their money and assets.

1. "Keep your shirt on"
   "Know the ropes"
2. "Knock it out of the park"
   "Let her rip"

If someone wants you to "keep your shirt on," it means that they want you to remain level-headed about a situation. This is also used to help calm someone down.

1. Something that is clean
   Something of high speed
2. Something that is greasy
   Something that requires hard work

"Greased lightning" refers to something that is high in speed, or something moving very quickly. For example, if I say that this car is like greased lighting, I'm saying that the car drives very fast.