1-Achilles Heel.

Weakest point (in something)/ An Achilles heel is a weakness in spite of overall strength,
which can lead to downfall.

Example: “Though he was a good person, his short temper was his Achilles heel.”
“He was a good student, but English literature had always been his Achilles heel”

2-Give oneself air.

To act pretentiously, to pose yourself.

Example: “Michelle should not give herself the airs as she’s no different from the rest of us.”

“Susan is a very smart girl but the fact that she gives herself airs about her job makes me
like her a little less.”

3-Tied to one’s apron-string

To be submissive to one’s wife.

Example: “ At 25, he was still too tied to her apron strings to get an apartment of his own”

“George never comes out with the rest of us - he's tied to his wife's apron strings.”

4-The apple of one’s eye.

someone most cherished, above others

the person of whom one is extremely fond, favorite, loving.

Example: “He is the apple of this school’s eye.”

“She has three children, but her youngest son is the apple of her eye.”

5-At a pinch.

To do something at the spot out if need/ if absolutely necessary.

Example:  “I can help out at a pinch if you need a babysitter.”

"the rear will accommodate two adults or three smaller people at a pinch"

6-Against a rainy day.

Against an obstacle, against a difficult day/ A time of need or trouble.

Example: “We should save money against a rainy day.”

“Against a rainy day, always have the idea that resolves the crises”
7-To be at daggers drawn.

Ready to fight/at each other’s throat/be bitterly hostile towards each other.

Example: “they have been at daggers drawn for weeks over tactics”

“The countries are at daggers drawn about the use of the canal that they share.”

8-To be at home at a subject.

To be good at a subject/ to have an upper hand, to have a command of something.

Example: “Although he was good at all subjects, he was at home in English”

“My mother is at home in the kitchen and can make just about any dish.”

9-A besetting sin.

A negative aspect that is always with you/sticks to you.

Example: “His besetting sin is a fondness for sweets.”

“ I doubt she'll listen to everything you have to say, her lack of patience is her besetting
sin”

10-To the backbone.

Through and through, thoroughly, in every manner or respect.

Example:
“The fellow is stubborn to the backbone; he won't even listen to my plan the whole way through!”

“Though he grew up in America, Henry is still British to the backbone.”

11-Be greek to one.

To be unintelligible, to not understand someone.

Example: “Mathematics is greek to him.”

“My friends were having a discussion about the future if the financial markets, but it was
all Greek to me”

12-Be the order of the day.

To have a habit/A particular way of behaving or doing something/ Something Common.

Example: “Warm clothes are the order of the day when camping in the winter.”

“Hot strong tea is the order of the day here, but coffee is becoming more and more
popular”
13-Blood is thicker than water.

Family relations are stronger than the ones we make later on.

Example: “When my best friend and my brother got in a fight I had to help my brother
because blood is thicker than water.”

“When you get into trouble, usually your family will be the ones to bail you out, not your
friends. After all, blood is thicker than water.”

14-To be born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth.

To be born in a rich family/ to have an easy childhood.

Example: “The president’s kid was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.”

“ He does not need this job as much as I do, he is born with a silver spoon in is mouth.”

15-To burn candle at both ends.

To be utilizing your resources unnecessarily.

Example: “By spending so much cash on such lavish parties, he’s burning his candle at both
ends.”

“Since starting my new job I have been burning the candle at both ends”

16-Once in a blue moon.

Once in a while/rare.

Example: “He comes to university once in a blue moon.”

“The earthquakes hits once in a blue moon in this part of the earth, we never felt it”

17-To burn one’s boat.

To cut off all routes of retreat

“I think you burned your boats when you announced you were quitting and proceeded to insult y
our boss in front of the whole staff.”

“He’ll be burning his own boat if he shares the details of his “

“He'll be burning his boats if he tells her all the details of the deal.”