Foresight & Prudence, Overreaction, Tact and 11 More Topics · English Idioms: Behavior

a secret advantage that a person can use when the need arises

"He has an ace up his sleeve."

"The negotiator revealed an ace up his sleeve, a previously undisclosed piece of information that shifted the entire discussion."

to save a person from receiving criticism, punishment, blame, etc.

"He lied to cover his ass."

"The politician made a public statement to cover his ass after the scandal broke and public opinion turned against him."

to take action in order to save a person from being criticized, punished, blamed, etc.

"I will cover your back in the meeting."

"Don't worry about the presentation; I'll cover your back if any difficult questions arise during the meeting."

to no longer partake in a failing business, activity, etc. to prevent further damage or losses

"It is time to cut your losses and sell."

"The smart investor decided to cut his losses and sell the falling stock before it became worthless."

a time of financial difficulty or a period of challenge

"Save this for a rainy day."

"My grandmother always saves some money for a rainy day because you never know when an emergency might happen."

a willingness to use any given opportunity or situation to one's advantage

"He has an eye for the main chance."

"The ambitious young man always has an eye on the main chance to get ahead."

to immediately prevent something, particularly something problematic, before it has time to develop

"We nipped it in the bud."

"We need to nip this problem in the bud before it grows into something much bigger and harder to fix."

to prevent something from developing into something worse

"We need to stop the rot before it gets worse."

"The new manager took drastic action to stop the rot in the failing department."

to take action while the opportunity exists

"Strike while the iron is hot."

"You should strike while the iron is hot and apply for the job before the deadline passes."

to carefully examine a situation before making a final decision

"He took stock of his life after the accident."

"Before making any major life changes, it is important to take stock of your current situation and future goals."

to realize how a situation is about to develop in order to be able to properly prepare for any potential problems or changes that one might encounter

"We need to see which way the wind blows."

"Before making any decisions, the manager wanted to find out which way the wind was blowing among the employees."

to think about something very carefully before doing it

"You should think twice before deciding."

"I always think twice before making any major financial decision that could affect my future."

to make a situation appear much bigger or more serious than it actually is

"Don't blow it out."

"He has a tendency to blow every minor inconvenience out of proportion, making it seem like a disaster."

to make a problem appear more serious or dangerous than it actually is

"Don't make a mountain out of a molehill."

"You are making a mountain out of a molehill because it is just a small mistake that can be easily fixed."

to react in an excessive way toward a minor thing

"Don't make a song and dance about it."

"She made a huge song and dance about the small mistake, even though it was easy to fix."

to highlight insignificant details or small distinctions between two things

"Don't split hairs."

"We don't need to split hairs over the exact wording; the main idea is clear."

an overly angry or worried reaction over something unimportant

"Their argument is just a tempest in a teapot."

"The argument about who drank the last coffee was just a tempest in a teapot."

to act in a way that shows or uses something more than what is enough just to avoid any possible risk or problem

"It is better to err on the side of caution."

"The cautious driver erred on the side of safety and drove slowly in the fog."

to feel annoyed, angry, or upset

"Don't get your panties in a bunch."

"He got his panties in a bunch over the tiny change in the schedule, which surprised everyone around him."

a great deal of attention that is given to matters of small importance

"The media fuss was much ado about nothing."

"The media made much ado about nothing regarding the celebrity minor disagreement."

to make an attempt to do something that is extreme or unacceptable

"Your joke went too far this time."

"The comedian went too far when he made jokes about the tragic accident."

to make something more complicated than it needs to be

"He over-egged the pudding by adding too many details."

"The director over egged the pudding by adding too many special effects to the movie."

to put more energy and force than is necessary into doing something

"Using that machine is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut."

"Using a chainsaw to cut a single piece of paper is using a sledgehammer to crack a nut."

to make something more complicated than it needs to be

"Don't over-egg the pudding."

"While his intentions were good, he really managed to over-egg the pudding with unnecessary embellishments to the story."

to ignore a situation, topic, issue, etc. so as not to cause troubles or difficulties

"I decided to let sleeping dogs lie and not ask questions."

"I wanted to ask about my father ex wife but decided to let sleeping dogs lie."

to simultaneously support two opposing parties, particularly to increase one's gain

"He runs with both teams."

"She tries to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds, but both sides eventually discover her true intentions."

to take action in order to prevent a probable failure or defeat

"She saved the day yesterday."

"The new manager saved the situation by quickly resolving the conflict between the two departments before it escalated further."

used when there is good reasoning behind one's seemingly strange or crazy behavior

"He seems disorganised, but there is a method to his madness."

"Her chaotic-looking workflow confused everyone at first, but results proved there was a clear method to her madness."

to be specially careful, gentle, or considerate when dealing with someone or something

"You have to treat her with kid gloves, she is sensitive."

"The fragile antique vase must be treated with kid gloves because it is very valuable and old."

to make good use of the things that are at one's disposal so as to succeed or gain something

"Play your cards right today."

"If you play your cards right during the interview, you will likely get the promotion you have been hoping for."

to be wise enough to avoid certain behaviors or thoughts

"You are old enough to know better."

"You are old enough to know better than to play with matches near the curtains."

to try to achieve the best outcome possible when dealing with a difficult or bad situation

"Let us make the best of a bad bargain."

"The hotel was terrible but we decided to make the best of a bad bargain and still enjoyed our holiday."

to choose a cautious course of action in a situation where there is uncertainty or potential risk

"Always err on the right side."

"When in doubt about the safety of a situation, it is always best to err on the right side and proceed with extreme caution."

used to tell someone to avoid trouble as much as possible

"Do not bid him good morrow."

"It is wise to not bid the devil good morrow until you actually meet with him and understand his intentions."

to follow the accepted or correct path toward reaching one's goal or desired outcome

"You must go through channels to get approval."

"You need to go through the proper channels if you want to complain about the new policy."

a combination of skills or techniques that can help in achieving one's goals

"The salesman showed us his bag of tricks."

"The experienced negotiator always had a bag of tricks ready to employ during difficult and complex negotiations."

a variety of plans, ideas, etc. that one can use if need arises

"Another string to bow."

"Learning to code is another string to her bow for future career opportunities."

a strategy in which one deliberately refrains from taking any action in order to gain advantage later on

"We are playing the waiting game."

"We are playing the waiting game and must be patient until the other side makes a move."

to take a moment to ponder what one is about to say

"The politician weighed his words carefully."

"The diplomat weighed his words carefully before speaking to the angry crowd."

to achieve two goals at the same time only by taking one action

"I killed two birds with one stone."

"I can kill two birds with one stone by picking up my prescription on the way to visit my mother."

to refrain from making a decision or taking any action until one acquires more data on the situation or how it develops

"See which way cat jumps."

"We will wait and see which way the cat jumps before committing to any investment."

a very friendly and gentle manner that is used to hide one's firm determination or ruthless mindset

"He rules with a velvet glove."

"He rules with a velvet glove and uses charm rather than force to get what he wants."

the influence children have on their parents or caregivers to buy or do something through continuous requests, demands, or persuasion

"Children use pester power."

"The toy company targets parents by understanding the significant pester power that children wield."

to approach situations calmly and diplomatically while also having the strength and power to take action if necessary

"Speak softly but carry strength."

"The diplomat knew how to speak softly and carry a big stick, which helped him negotiate peace without showing any weakness."

an overused method that may still succeed

"That lie is the oldest trick in the book."

"The con man used the oldest trick in the book to steal money from the old lady."

to take a moment to ponder what one is about to say

"Weigh your words carefully."

"Before responding to the sensitive question, she took a moment to carefully weigh her words to avoid causing offense."

to do one's best to be as proper and polite as one is capable of

"Mind your p's and q's when you meet her parents."

"The new employee was told to mind his p s and q s during the important meeting."

to speak in a manner that is not inappropriate, vulgar, or offensive

"Watch your language in front of the kids."

"The angry teenager was told to mind his language when his mother heard him swearing."

as polite and well-mannered as one can be

"The children were on their best behavior."

"The children were on their best behavior when their strict grandmother came to visit."

(of people, their words, or behavior) not offensive to people of different races, ethnicities, genders, etc.

"His comment was not politically correct."

"Some people think the term firefighter is more politically correct than fireman."

to put as much effort as possible into doing something, particularly something difficult

"Try to put your best foot forward."

"Make sure you put your best foot forward at the interview by dressing professionally and smiling."

to behave in an overly polite and formal manner

"Please do not stand on ceremony, make yourself at home."

"Please do not stand on ceremony at our house so feel free to help yourself to anything in the kitchen."

used to tell a person that they should talk in a way that is not rude, vulgar, or offensive

"Watch your mouth — there are children here!"

"She pulled him aside and warned him to watch his mouth during client meetings."

used to apologize for swearing or using offensive words

"Excuse my French, but that's wrong."

"Pardon my French, but I think that was the most ridiculous decision the committee has ever made."

said of something that is done only for the sake of formality or just to keep up appearances

"He signed the document as a matter of form."

"The company interviews all candidates as a matter of form even when they already know who they will hire."

to dismiss or fire someone from their job or position

"She showed the employee the door."

"When the customer became rude and aggressive the manager showed him the door immediately."

to speak in a manner marked by politeness and dignity

"Keep a civil tongue when you talk to me."

"The angry customer was asked to keep a civil tongue when speaking to the manager."

to choose words carefully so as to avoid offense or give an impression different from the truth

"Don't mince your words now."

"She never minces her words when giving feedback, which some people find too blunt."

to deliberately hold back or lessen the force or impact of one's actions, often to avoid causing harm or offense

"Don't pull your punches."

"The coach told the team not to pull their punches during the practice match."

to do something in order to replace something lost or fix something damaged

"Work hard to make up."

"She promised to make up for her mistake by taking on extra responsibilities at the office for the next month."

behavior that is acceptable and considered to be appropriate within a certain setting

"Follow the Queensberry rules."

"In this professional environment, adherence to the Queensberry rules of respectful discourse is absolutely paramount for collaboration."

to try to behave in the best way possible so as to make a good impression or gain approval

"Put your best foot forward."

"On his first day at the new job, he made a conscious effort to put his best foot forward and impress his colleagues."

to accompany a guest, visitor, etc. to the exit of a room or building

"Show them the door."

"After a lengthy and unproductive meeting, the frustrated manager decided to show the disruptive participants the door."

to only rely on one thing or person for achieving success without any alternatives in case it fails

"Do not put all your eggs in one basket."

"Do not put all your eggs in one basket by investing your entire savings in a single company stock."

to not do things in order

"Don't put the cart before the horse."

"Buying furniture before you have a house is putting the cart before the horse, so plan more carefully."

to make an attempt to do something difficult without having the requirements or means to do so

"Do not try to run before you can walk."

"The ambitious child wanted to run before he could walk and became very frustrated when he fell down."

to lose the good alongside the bad in an attempt to dispose of the bad

"Don't throw baby out."

"When renovating the old house, be careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater."

used to say that a person is not interested or concerned about someone or something at all

"He could not care less about it."

"She could not care less about what people think of her new haircut, because she truly loves the style."

used when a person is not concerned about something or someone

"You can leave for all I care."

"You can do whatever you want for all I care because I am leaving this company tomorrow."

to care or consider something important

"I don't give shit."

"He acted as if he didn't give a shit about the consequences of his actions."

to express a lack of concern or interest in someone or something

"I don't give damn."

"She said she didn't give a tinker's damn about his opinion on her new hairstyle."

used to say that something has no negative impact or consequence on someone

"If you lose, it is no skin off my back."

"If you do not come to the party it is no skin off my back because I will still have fun."

to not consider a thing or person while planning and fail to prepare a way to deal with them as a result

"They reckoned without her strong will."

"The company reckoned without the fierce competition from overseas, and their sales dropped significantly within just a few months."

to decide to do something without considering its consequences

"She dove in headfirst to the new project."

"The enthusiastic student dived in headfirst to the difficult project without any preparation."

to allow a situation or issue to continue without intervention, hoping it become better or resolved in the future

"Let the situation ride."

"The manager decided to let the minor disagreement ride, hoping it would resolve itself."

to behave in a manner that is considered foolish or immature

"He made an ass of himself yesterday."

"She made an ass of herself at the party by dancing on the table and spilling wine on the host's expensive carpet."

said to mean something is done without caring if someone gets offended or upset

"They were polite before, but now the gloves are off."

"Following the collapse of diplomatic talks, the gloves are off and both governments have begun imposing trade restrictions."

to not be upset or concerned about someone or something at all

"I won't lose sleep over it."

"The manager said not to lose any sleep about the negative review, because customer feedback is always mixed in this industry."

to not care about other people's opinions, feelings, or rights

"He runs roughshod over his team."

"The new director ran roughshod over the employees' concerns, implementing changes without consulting anyone in the department."

to do or say something that is hurtful to someone and makes them undergo deep distress

"Her insult cut me to the quick."

"The cruel comment cut me to the quick because it attacked my biggest insecurity."

to show concern for or care about someone or something

"I don't give a hoot."

"She doesn't give a hoot about what other people think of her choices."

to care about a person or thing

"I don't care a hang."

"He doesn't care a hang about the rules at school."

to not care about other people and do what one believes is best for oneself

"In business, you have to look out for number one."

"In the competitive business world many people only look out for number one and ignore others."

without consideration and hesitation

"She spoke out of hand."

"The committee made their decision out of hand, without any further discussion or deliberation."

used to express one's complete agreement with someone's statement

"'This pizza is really good.' — 'You can say that again!'"

"'The traffic in this city has become absolutely unbearable.' — 'You can say that again!'"

used to show one's lack of sympathy for a person or thing

"Tough cheese for you."

"He complained about failing the exam, but his friends just shrugged and said, 'Tough cheese.'"

used to angrily state that despite one's disagreement with what someone has said, one will not argue about it

"Fine, have it your way."

"I don't agree with your plan, but if you insist, then have it your way."

used to say goodbye to a person when one expects to see them again

"I have to go — catch you later!"

"She was already halfway out the door, calling catch you later over her shoulder."

used when giving someone the confirmation that they can do, take, or use something

"Be my guest — use whatever you need."

"'May I borrow your charger?' — 'Be my guest, I do not need it right now.'"

used to show one's anger, surprise, or frustration

"Bloody hell! That was very loud."

"Bloody hell, that was very loud, and it scared me quite a lot, actually."

said to someone who is annoyingly quiet when they are expected to speak

"Why are you so quiet? Cat got your tongue?"

"She stood before the panel completely silent — cat got your tongue, someone finally asked."

used to say that someone can do as they please

"Knock yourself out."

"You want to repaint the entire living room yourself? Knock yourself out, but don't expect my help."

used when greeting someone after a long time has passed since one's last encounter with them

"Long time, no see! Where have you been?"

"Long time, no see! Where have you been? I have missed you very much, my friend."

used to refer to dogs, emphasizing their loyalty and companionship with humans

"My dog is truly man's best friend."

"The loyal dog has earned the title of man best friend by always staying by his owner side."

used to show that one agrees with someone's suggestion or statement

"'Let us get ice cream!' — 'Now you are talking!'"

"'What if we scrapped the current strategy entirely and started fresh with a more agile framework?' — 'Now you are talking!'"

to show that one believes that someone is joking or lying

"You're joking, pull the other."

"When he claimed he saw a unicorn, I knew he was joking and told him to pull the other one."

used to show that one does not accept nor agree with someone's statement or opinion

"Says who? Who told you that?"

"Says who? Who told you that? I think you are making it up."

used to express one's complete disbelief about something that another person has just said

"Moon is made cheese."

"His unbelievable story about winning the lottery twice in one day made me think the moon is made of green cheese."

said to angrily ask a person to stop staring at one

"Stop staring — take a picture, it lasts longer!"

"When he noticed the stranger staring intently, he sarcastically said, "Take a picture, it'll last longer!""

used to show that one is angry, annoyed, or astonished

"For crying out loud, be quiet!"

"For crying out loud, please be quiet. I am trying to focus."

used to express disagreement with an idea, statement, or opinion as unimportant, silly, or not worth serious consideration

"Pish posh, that's silly."

"Pish posh! The idea that we can finish this project in one day is completely unrealistic."

used to express disbelief or rejection of a statement

"Pig's ass! That's a lie."

"Pig's ass! I don't believe for a second that you actually finished the entire project by yourself."

used to show affection or add humor when addressing a person

"You son of a gun!"

"Well, son of a gun, you finally managed to finish that incredibly difficult project after all your hard work!"

to try to get a person's attention, particularly by attempting to make eye contact

"I caught his eye."

"She tried to catch the waiter's eye to order another drink from across the crowded restaurant."

to be able to hear even the quietest of sounds due to the environment being extremely silent

"I can hear a pin drop."

"It was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop."

to walk or move confidently in a way that deliberately attracts attention, often to show off one’s physical appearance, style, or attractiveness

"Strut your stuff on stage."

"The model walked down the runway to strut her stuff in front of the famous fashion designers."

to be eager to hear what a person wants to say

"I am all ears now."

"Tell me your exciting news because I am all ears and ready to listen to everything."

to give a thing one's full attention

"The kids were glued to the television."

"The children were glued to the television watching their favourite cartoon on Saturday morning."

to be careful to notice a thing or person

"Keep your eyes peeled for danger."

"We must keep our eyes open for any suspicious activity in the neighborhood."

to make an effort to stay well informed on the developments or changes of a situation

"I keep my ear to the ground for new trends."

"The journalist keeps her ear to the ground to hear about breaking news before anyone else."

to listen to a person or thing in an attentive or sympathetic way

"Please lend me your ear for a moment."

"The kind teacher lent her ear to the upset student who needed to talk about his problems."

to hear something interesting and start to listen to it carefully

"The dog perked up his ears at the sound."

"The dog perked up his ears when he heard the sound of his owner car pulling into the driveway."

to pay attention to something that is being said

"Pin back your ears and listen carefully."

"The students had to pin back their ears and listen carefully to the professor's lecture."

to attract the attention of other people, often in a way that causes other people or things less noticeable

"The comedian took the stage."

"When the charismatic speaker took the stage, all eyes in the audience immediately focused on her."

to behave in a way that does not draw attention to one

"Keep a low profile for now."

"After the scandal the actor decided to keep a low profile and avoid all media interviews for a while."

to begin listening eagerly and intentively

"He pricked up his ears."

"She pricked up her ears when she heard the news."

to attract the attention of a person

"She caught my eye."

"The unique design of the antique vase immediately caught my eye from across the crowded room."

to confidently put one's best skills, abilities, or features on display in order to impress or show off

"Strut your stuff."

"The talented young dancer was encouraged to strut her stuff on stage and captivate the audience with her performance."

the skill to notice details and make great observations

"He has an eagle eye."

"With an eagle eye for detail, the art restorer meticulously examined the ancient painting for any signs of damage."

to distract someone's attention or thoughts away from something, typically something stressful, worrisome, or unpleasant

"A movie helped get my mind off my problems."

"He listened to loud music to get his mind off his problems at work and at home."

a state in which one is very deep in thought and not aware of one's surroundings

"He sat in a brown study."

"He sat in a brown study and did not notice his wife calling him for dinner."

to examine a thing or person very quickly

"He gave me a once-over."

"The security guard gave me a quick once-over before letting me enter the exclusive nightclub downtown."

said to mean that what a person is searching for is right where they are, but they have failed to notice it

"It would have bitten you!"

"You've been looking for your glasses everywhere, but they are on your head — if it were a snake, it would have bitten you!"

used to tell someone that the zipper of their pants is open

"Your zipper is open."

"Excuse me, but I think you should know that your zipper is open and might be causing you some embarrassment."

used to say that a person is thinking about things that are unrealistic or impractical

"His head is in clouds."

"She always has her head in the clouds at school."

not paying attention or not doing one's job properly, often resulting in mistakes or negative consequences

"The guard was asleep at the wheel and missed the thief."

"The security guard was asleep at the wheel and did not see the thief enter the building."

to regret or feel bad about what one has said earlier

"He had to eat dirt."

"The arrogant businessman was forced to eat dirt when his flawed business plan failed spectacularly."

to consider a person or thing unimportant and undeserving of respect

"She looks down at me."

"He looks down on people who are poor."

(of jokes or remarks) close to the limits of what people can tolerate or find acceptable, particularly if it is offensive or sexually suggestive

"His joke was a bit near the knuckle."

"The comedian joke was near the knuckle and some people in the audience were offended."

to speak in a manner that is rude or sexually offensive

"He aired his lungs loudly."

"During the heated argument, he began to air his lungs with a barrage of vulgar and inappropriate comments."

to talk to a person in a way that is rude and shows no respect for them

"Do not give me any lip, young lady."

"The rude child gave his mother some lip and was sent to his room without dinner."

resonating deeply with someone's personal experiences, feelings, or beliefs

"Her comments about laziness hit close to home."

"The movie about family problems was close to home for me because I had a similar experience."

to express contempt or disrespect to a person by showing one's naked backside to them

"He will hang a BA."

"During the protest, one angry student decided to hang a BA at the dean, which got him suspended from the university immediately."

to raise one's middle finger and point it toward a person to show one is angry with them, hates, or disrespects them

"He gave her the finger yesterday."

"After the driver cut him off in traffic, he angrily flipped the other driver the finger and sped away down the highway."

to have an attitude that is inappropriate, rude, or too bold

"You have some nerve talking to me like that."

"That man has some nerve asking for a raise after arriving late to work every single day."

to talk about someone without giving them any respect

"Don't take God's name in vain."

"He always takes his father's name in vain when he is angry."

(of a joke, story, remark, etc.) dealing with sensitive or controversial topics that can be uncomfortable or unsettling to hear

"His criticism was a bit close to the bone."

"The documentary about poverty was close to the bone and made many viewers cry."

a very private or offensive subject that should not be discussed

"Politics is a no-go area."

"For the sake of family harmony, discussions about Uncle John's controversial past were strictly considered a no-go area."

to intentionally and rudely display an offensive hand gesture, involving raising the middle finger while extending the others downward, as a sign of strong disapproval, annoyance, or disrespect toward someone

"He gave the driver the bird."

"The frustrated motorist gave the slow driver the bird after being cut off unexpectedly."

to receive insults or bad treatment, especially without ever complaining

"He ate dirt."

"Despite the constant criticism and unfair treatment from his boss, the loyal employee chose to eat dirt rather than complain."

to laugh or shout insults at someone

"They gave him the bird."

"The disgruntled crowd began to jeer and give him the bird when he failed to address their legitimate concerns."

used to tell someone to stop annoying one with their action or behavior

"Cut it out — stop making that noise!"

"She told her colleagues to cut it out after the jokes became disruptive during the meeting."

used to express support, encouragement, or admiration for someone's efforts

"More power to your elbow!"

"Seeing your dedication to this challenging project, I wanted to say more power to your elbow and good luck."

used to say that there is no need for one to say more or offer more details

"We agree. Enough said."

"After explaining the situation briefly, he concluded with 'enough said,' implying that further elaboration was unnecessary."

used when one is angry, frustrated, or surprised by something

"For goodness' sake, hurry!"

"For goodness' sake, hurry up and finish your chores so we can go to the park and play."

used to show strong disagreement

"Perish the thought — I would never do that!"

"Perish the thought that we would ever compromise on our ethical standards for the sake of profit."

slow to start or react to a situation, often leading to a disadvantage or delay in progress

"He was slow off the mark."

"Because the team was slow off the mark, they missed the opportunity to secure the best client contracts."

to stay calm regardless of the situation one is in or things that happened

"She didn't turn a hair."

"Even during the terrible storm, the captain didn't turn a hair."

to show no sign of worry or surprise when something unexpected occurs

"He did not bat an eye."

"Despite the shocking news of the company's bankruptcy, the seasoned CEO did not bat an eye and calmly assessed the next steps."

to respond to an offense with patience, forgiveness, and a peaceful attitude instead of retaliating or seeking revenge

"He decided to turn the other cheek and forgive."

"When someone insults you sometimes it is better to turn the other cheek than to fight back."

to refrain from becoming upset about or offended by something

"He took my joke in good part."

"She took the criticism in good part and used it to improve her work."

to deny someone a definite answer to something or refuse to offer them help

"They gave me the runaround."

"The customer service representative seemed determined to give me the runaround, avoiding any direct answers about my refund."

in a way that shows willingness to accept new ideas or welcome people

"They welcomed us with open arms."

"The small, friendly community welcomed the new family with open arms, making them feel instantly at home."

to begin talking about a subject that is not in any way related to the original topic that is being discussed

"The professor often goes off on a tangent."

"The professor often goes off on a tangent and forgets the original topic of his lecture."

to act very fast in order to get advantage over someone

"We stole a march on them."

"By launching their product a week earlier, the company managed to steal a march on their main competitor."

to declare one's participation or candidacy in a competition or contest

"He threw his hat in the ring."

"Several ambitious candidates decided to throw their hats into the ring for the prestigious leadership position."

used of a person or organization that is more successful or performing much better than its rivals

"Our company is ahead of the pack."

"With their innovative marketing strategy and superior product quality, they are clearly ahead of the pack in this industry."

to constantly try to have or do things as well as others around one, often to show oneself just as successful as they are

"They try to keep up with Joneses."

"Many families feel pressured to keep up with the Joneses, constantly buying new cars and renovating their homes."

to react more quickly than someone in doing or achieving something

"She beat me to the draw."

"He was so quick to respond to the question that he beat everyone else to the draw."

in a better position compared to one's rivals or peers

"We are ahead of the game."

"By investing in advanced technology early on, the company remained ahead of the curve and dominated the market."

closely following or pursuing someone or something, often in a persistent or bothersome manner

"He is on my heels."

"The determined detective was hot on the suspect's heels, determined to catch him before he escaped."

used to refer to the energetic and thrilling nature of an activity where people compete or argue with each other, creating an exciting and lively atmosphere

"He likes the cut and thrust."

"She thrived in the cut and thrust of the stock market, enjoying the constant competition and rapid decision-making."

near the point of surpassing a fellow competitor

"Close on his heels."

"The determined athlete was running close on his heels, determined to win the marathon after a challenging race."

to deprive people of their most basic means of living, particularly via unfair mathods

"The new law took our bread."

"The aggressive expansion of the large corporation threatened to take the bread out of the mouths of local small businesses."

to make a difficult or painful situation even worse for someone

"Don't rub salt into wound."

"After he had already lost the competition, his rival's taunting comments were like rubbing salt into the wound."

to be tough and smart in negotiations, insisting on favorable terms to achieve a favorable outcome for oneself

"She drives a hard bargain."

"The car salesman drives a hard bargain but I finally managed to get the price down slightly."

an attitude or approach that is cruel, and often unrestricted

"She ruled with iron fist."

"The new manager's approach was characterized by an iron fist, leaving no room for employee input or flexibility."

to cause a person experience great difficulty

"The exams put me through hell."

"The constant delays and bureaucratic hurdles put the entire team through hell during the project's development phase."

to purposefully make someone suffer more than they already do

"Don't twist the knife."

"After he had already lost his job, his former boss's condescending remarks felt like twisting the knife in the wound."

the use of excessive force, control, or authority in a way that can be harsh or oppressive

"The teacher used heavy hand."

"The government's heavy hand in regulating small businesses stifled innovation and led to widespread resentment among entrepreneurs."

a person who appears gentle and kind on the outside, but they are firm, resolute, and even ruthless in their actions

"She has an iron hand in velvet glove."

"The diplomat skillfully negotiated the treaty, displaying an iron hand in a velvet glove by being both polite and unyielding."

to stop someone from acting freely, creatively, comfortably, or in their usual way

"Rules cramp my style."

"Wearing a uniform really cramps my style at school."