ตำนานของ Achilles' Heel

 

(Picture by Peter Paul Reubens (circa 1625) of the goddess Thetis dipping her son Achilles in the River Styx which runs through Hades. In the background, the ferryman Charon rows the dead across the river in his boat.)

      หลังจากที่ได้พูดถึงที่มาที่ไปของ Scapegoat และหนังสือเรื่อง Whom God Would Destroy? ไปครั้งที่แล้ว ทำให้นึกขึ้นได้ว่า ก่อนหน้านั้นก็เคยพูดถึง idiom ที่มีที่มาที่ไปตั้งแต่ยุคโบราณ เกี่ยวกับนิยายปรัมปราคือ คำว่า Too Close To The Sun  ถึงตอนนี้ทำให้นึกถึง idiom อีกคำที่มีต้นกำเนิดตั้งแต่สมัยโบราณกาล นัยว่าในยุคสมัยนั้นมนุษย์และเทพเจ้าสามารถพูดจาสื่อสารกันได้ แม้กระทั่งมีลูกด้วยกันก็ยังเคย ดังตัวอย่างเช่น Achilles ซึ่งเป็นบุตรของ Goddess of Water ในสมัยกรีกโบราณ และ Mr Achilles คนนี้เองที่เป็นต้นกำเนิดของ idiom  คือ Achilles' Heel  (Hollywood เคยทำหนังเรื่อง Troy ให้ Brad Pitt สุดหล่อแสดงเป็น Achilles)
       ขอคัดลอกข้อความจาก wikipedia มาให้อ่านเพื่อฝึกฝนภาษาอังกฤษกันเล่นๆ ดังนี้
       In Greek mythology, when Achilles was a baby, it was foretold that he would die young . To prevent his death, his mother Thetis took Achilles to the River Styx, which was supposed to offer powers of invulnerability, and dipped his body into the water. But as Thetis held Achilles by the heel, his heel was not washed over by the water of the magical river. Achilles grew up to be a man of war who survived many great battles. But one day, a poisonous arrow shot at him was lodged in his heel, killing him shortly after.
      ใจความก็คือ สมัยที่ Achilles ยังเป็นเบบี๋อยู่ มีคำทำนายว่าจะตายตั้งแต่ยังเด็ก ทำให้ม่าม้า Thetis ที่เป็นเทพี (เป็นเพศชายจะเรียก เทพเจ้า) ต้องรีบหาวิธีแก้ไข  โดยการพาลูกชายสุดที่รักไปยังแม่น้ำ Styx ซึ่งเป็นแม่น้ำที่กั้นระหว่างโลกคนตายและโลกคนเป็น เมื่อถึงแม่น้ำสุดสยองนี้ คุณแม่เทพีท่านนี้ก็ไม่รีรอรีบจับเท้า baby Achilles ให้หัวห้อยแล้วจุ่ม (จะคล้ายกับเวลาเราไปกินหมูจุ่มหรือเปล่าก็ไม่รู้ ลองดูภาพประกอบที่ยืมเขามาก็แล้วกัน) ลงไปในน้ำเพื่อให้อยู่ยงคงกระพัน ประมาณว่าฟันไม่เข้า (หมายถึง ฟันแทง ไม่เข้า คนละความหมายกับฟันเหยิน) แต่เจ้ากรรมบริเวณที่คุณแม่ผู้แสนดีจับไว้นั้นไม่ได้สัมผัสกับน้ำของแม่น้ำแห่งเวทมนตร์  จึงทำให้ส่วนของ ส้นเท้า หรือ heel กลายเป็นจุดอ่อนไป  นั่นเองที่ทำให้ Achilles เป็นที่ร่ำลือว่าอยู่ยั้งยืนยงในมหาสงครามหลายต่อหลายครั้ง แต่ท้ายที่สุดก็โดนกำจัดจุดอ่อนจนได้  เพราะโดนลูกธนูอาบยาพิษที่ส้นเท้าเข้าเต็มๆ ในสงครามกับกรุง Troy  นี่เองคือที่มาของ idiom คำว่า Achilles' Heel (heel ไม่มี s นะ เพราะจับข้างเดียวไม่ได้จับ 2 ข้าง) ซึ่งหมายถึง จุดอ่อน จุดด้อย
     ถ้าเป็นตามที่ตำนานเล่ามาจริงๆ blogger คิดว่า Achilles น่าจะหาเกราะเหล็กหนาๆ หุ้มเฉพาะส่วนที่เป็น heel ของเขาซะ  Brad Pitt สุดหล่อจะได้ไม่ต้องมาตายตอนจบให้เป็นที่น่าเสียดายอย่างนี้

ที่มาที่ไปของ แพะรับบาป (Scapegoat)

                The Scapegoat by William Holman Hunt, 1854.

      วันนี้ดูสารคดีจาก Truevision เกี่ยวกับการระบาดของ small pox ไข้ทรพิษที่ประเทศแคนาดา เมื่อประมาณปี 1880 กว่าๆ ที่มีคนตายถึง 2,000 กว่าคน ส่วนใหญ่เป็นเด็กอายุต่ำกว่า 10 ขวบ ในครั้งนั้นชาวเมืองโกรธแค้นที่รัฐบาลไม่สามารถควบคุมโรคได้ รัฐบาลจึงพยายามหาแพะรับบาปเพื่อโยนความโกรธแค้นในครั้งนั้นไปให้ 
       การกระทำแบบหา แพะรับบาป ไม่ได้เพิ่งจะเกิดขึ้นในยุคนี้สมัยนี้ แต่มีมาตั้งแต่สมัยกรีกโบราณ bloggerเคยอ่านนิยายแปลเรื่อง Whom God Would Destroy? หรือในภาคภาษาไทยเรื่อง สวรรค์สาป ที่ประพันธ์โดย Richard Powell นักเขียนคนโปรดที่เขียนเรื่องต่างๆ ได้อย่างมีสีสัน โดยวิธีประชดประชัน(satire) นิยายเรื่องนี้เขียนขึ้นโดยอิงจากมหากาพย์ The Trojan War ของกวีเอก Homer นิยายเรื่องนี้อ่านสนุกมากโดยเฉพาะคนที่เคยอ่านหรือพอจะรู้เรื่องเกี่ยวกับเทวตำนานของฝรั่ง ในเรื่องเล่าถึงตัวเอกซึ่งเป็นลูกนอกสมรสของกษัตริย์แห่งทรอย ซึ่งย่อมเป็นที่จงเกลียดจงชังของมเหสีใหญ่อย่างแน่นอน จึงไม่ใช่เรื่องแปลกที่พระเอกคนนี้จะติดร่างแหกลายเป็น scapegoat ไปอย่างไม่รู้เนื้อรู้ตัว ลองอ่านประวัติความเป็นมาของคำๆนี้กันดู
        ในสมัยของกรีกโบราณนั้น ในแต่ละปีมีประเพณีล้างบาปให้เมือง เพื่อกำจัดทุพภิกขภัยต่างๆ อาทิ แผ่นดินไหว  โดยคัดเลือกอาชญากร(criminal) คนพิการ(cripple) หรือ ขอทาน(beggar) วิธีการคัดเลือกคือ เขียนชื่อคนเหล่านั้นบนแผ่นดินเหนียว แล้วตากแดดไว้ 1 วันกับ 1 คืน ถ้าแผ่นที่ม่ีชื่อของใครแห้งที่สุด  คนคนนั้นจะถูกบังคับให้เดินไปรอบๆเมือง ระหว่างทางจะมีชาวบ้านขว้างหินใส่ตลอดทาง จนกระทั่งขาดใจตายไปเอง และคนที่ถูกเลือกนี้เรียกว่า Scapegoat  ซึ่งคำว่า Scapegoat นี้มาจาก Bible ที่เรียกแพะซึ่งถูกนำไปปล่อยทิ้งในทะเลทรายเพื่อฉลองพิธี Day of Atonement

ข้อมูลนี้ทำให้คิดว่าสำนวนไทยสำนวนนี้ฝรั่งขอยืมจากไทย หรือไทยขอยืมจากฝรั่งกันแน่น้อ

Cyberbullying อันธพาล online

What is Cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is the use of Information Communications Technology (ICT), particularly mobile phones and the internet, deliberately to upset someone else.

What’s different about cyberbullying?

Bullying is not new, but some features of cyberbullying are different from other forms of bullying:

• 24/7 and the invasion of home/personal space. Cyberbullying can take place at any time and can intrude into spaces that have previously been regarded as safe or personal.
• The audience can be very large and reached rapidly. The difficulty in controlling electronically circulated messages means the scale and scope of cyberbullying can be greater than for other forms of bullying. Electronically forwarded content is hard to control, and the worry of content resurfacing can make it difficult for targets to move on.
• People who cyberbully may attempt to remain anonymous. This can be extremely distressing for those being bullied. The person cyberbullying may never be in the same physical space as their target.
• The profile of the bully and target. Cyberbullying can take place both between peers and across generations; teachers have also been targets. Age or size are not important. Bystanders can also become accessories to the bullying; for example, by passing on a humiliating image.
• Some instances of cyberbullying are known to be unintentional. It can be the result of not thinking (something sent as a joke may be deeply upsetting or offensive to the recipient) or a lack of awareness of the consequences – for example saying something negative online about another pupil, or friend that they don’t expect to be forwarded or viewed outside their immediate group.
• Many cyberbullying incidents can themselves act as evidence. This is one of the reasons why it’s important to know how to respond!

Cyberbullying and the law

• Education law: Bullying is never acceptable. The school community has a duty to protect all its members and provide a safe, healthy environment. A range of Education Acts and government initiatives highlight these obligations.
  
  The Education and Inspections Act 2006 (EIA 2006) outlines some legal powers which relate more directly to cyberbullying. Head teachers have the power ‘to such an extent as is reasonable’ to regulate the conduct of pupils when they are off site. The EIA also provides a defence for school staff in confiscating items such as mobile phones from pupils.
• Civil and criminal law: Although bullying is not a specific criminal offence in UK law, there are laws that can apply in terms of harassing or threatening behaviour, for example, or indeed menacing and threatening communications. In fact, some cyberbullying activities could be criminal offences under a range of different laws, including the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, which has both criminal and civil provision, the Malicious Communications Act 1988, section 127 of the Communications Act 2003, and the Public Order
  Act 1986.

"I felt that no one understood what I was going through. I didn’t know who was sending me these messages, and I felt powerless to know what to do."
A pupil

Flood of cash

เป็นครั้งแรกที่ได้ดู series เรื่อง How to be a gentleman ทาง True Series เป็นเรื่องของชายหนุ่ม 2 คนที่เป็น roommates กัน คนหนึ่งออกจะแหยๆ อีกคนมาดเข้ม เซอ วันหนึ่งคนมาดเข้มซึ่งมีพ่อบังเกิดเกล้าเป็นคู่แข่ง จำเป็นต้องโกหกพ่อเกี่ยวกับธุรกิจ fitness gym ที่กำลังทำ  นายแหยก็เลยช่วยเพื่อนโกหกว่า"Flood of cask" เป็นคำที่นายแหยใช้เพื่อจะบอกว่า ธุรกิจของเพื่อนกำลังรุ่งเงินไหลมาเทมา  เนื้อหา series เรื่องนี้ ดูแล้วเด็กอายุ 13+ ก็น่าจะดูได้ จะได้ฝึกภาษาไปด้วยในตัว เข้าประเภท English for entertainment
                                                               

Blow the whistle

วันนี้ดู How I met your mother ทาง True series เป็นตอนที่ Barny(คนยืนขวาสุด) ตกหลุมรักหญิงสาวคนนึง เลยแกล้งทำตัวเป็นคนดี ทั้งๆที่จริงๆแล้ว คิดจะหลอกผู้หญิงแล้วก็ทิ้ง  แต่ครั้งนี้กลับพาสาวสวยมาให้เพื่อนๆ รู้จัก และขอให้เพื่อนๆ โกหกว่าตัวเองเป็นผ้าขาว แต่เพื่อนๆไม่ยอม โดย Emily(คนนั่งทางซ้าย) ขู่ Barny ว่า "I'll blow the whistle" ฉันจะเปิดโปงนาย Series เรื่องนี้เหมาะกับคนที่อายุ 18+ นะคะ เพราะมีเนื้อหาและคำพูดบางอย่างที่ไม่เหมาะสมกับเด็ก

"DOGFACE" What a meaning!!

วันหนึ่งลูกสาวพูดขึ้นว่าเคยเห็นคำว่า dogface แต่จำไม่ได้ว่าความหมายคืออะไร เลยถามแม่ แม่ก็ตอบเล่นๆ ว่า "หน้าสุนัข มั๊ง" เลยโดนดุกลับมาว่า นี่ถามจริงๆนะ เลยต้องเดือดร้อนไปค้นความหมายใน website ของ merriam webster dictionary เลยได้คำที่เป็น synonym ว่าหมายถึง  soldier, fighter, legionary, legionnaire, man-at-arms, regular, serviceman, trooper, warrior  ความหมายออกจะดี ดังนั้นครั้งหน้าถ้าโดนคนชมด้วยคำนี้ แต่เป็นภาษาไทย เราก็แปลเป็นภาษาอังกฤษให้ว่อง แล้วจะได้สบายใจ

นอกจากนี้ ด้วยความขี้สงสัยเลยได้อานิสงฆ์จาก website idiom online เลยขออนุญาตนำมาเผยแพร่ไว้ ณ ที่นี้ ค่ะ

A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In The Bush:
Having something that is certain is much better than taking a risk for more, because chances are you might lose everything.

A Blessing In Disguise:
Something good that isn't recognized at first.

A Chip On Your Shoulder:
Being upset for something that happened in the past.

A Dime A Dozen:
Anything that is common and easy to get.

A Doubting Thomas:
A skeptic who needs physical or personal evidence in order to believe something.

A Drop in the Bucket:
A very small part of something big or whole.

A Fool And His Money Are Easily Parted:
It's easy for a foolish person to lose his/her money.

A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand:
Everyone involved must unify and function together or it will not work out.

A Leopard Can't Change His Spots:
You cannot change who you are.

A Penny Saved Is A Penny Earned:
By not spending money, you are saving money (little by little).

A Picture Paints a Thousand Words:
A visual presentation is far more descriptive than words.

A Piece of Cake:
A task that can be accomplished very easily.

A Slap on the Wrist:
A very mild punishment.

A Taste Of Your Own Medicine:
When you are mistreated the same way you mistreat others.

A Toss-Up:
A result that is still unclear and can go either way.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words:
It's better to actually do something than just talk about it.

Add Fuel To The Fire:
Whenever something is done to make a bad situation even worse than it is.

Against The Clock:
Rushed and short on time.

All Bark And No Bite:
When someone is threatening and/or aggressive but not willing to engage in a fight.

All Greek to me:
Meaningless and incomprehensible like someone who cannot read, speak, or understand any of the Greek language would be.

All In The Same Boat:
When everyone is facing the same challenges.

An Arm And A Leg:
Very expensive. A large amount of money.

An Axe To Grind:
To have a dispute with someone.

Apple of My Eye:
Someone who is cherished above all others.

As High As A Kite:
Anything that is high up in the sky.

At The Drop Of A Hat:
Willing to do something immediately.


B

Back Seat Driver:
People who criticize from the sidelines, much like someone giving unwanted advice from the back seat of a vehicle to the driver.

Back To Square One:
Having to start all over again.

Back To The Drawing Board:
When an attempt fails and it's time to start all over.

Baker's Dozen:
Thirteen.

Barking Up The Wrong Tree:
A mistake made in something you are trying to achieve.

Beat A Dead Horse:
To force an issue that has already ended.

Beating Around The Bush:
Avoiding the main topic. Not speaking directly about the issue.

Bend Over Backwards:
Do whatever it takes to help. Willing to do anything.

Between A Rock And A Hard Place:
Stuck between two very bad options.

Bite Off More Than You Can Chew:
To take on a task that is way to big.

Bite Your Tongue:
To avoid talking.

Blood Is Thicker Than Water:
The family bond is closer than anything else.

Blue Moon:
A rare event or occurance.

Break A Leg:
A superstitious way to say 'good luck' without saying 'good luck', but rather the opposite.

Buy A Lemon:
To purchase a vehicle that constantly gives problems or stops running after you drive it away.

C

Can't Cut The Mustard :
Someone who isn't adequate enough to compete or participate.

Cast Iron Stomach:
Someone who has no problems, complications or ill effects with eating anything or drinking anything.

Charley Horse:
Stiffness in the leg / A leg cramp.

Chew someone out:
Verbally scold someone.

Chip on his Shoulder:
Angry today about something that occured in the past.

Chow Down:
To eat.

Close but no Cigar:
To be very near and almost accomplish a goal, but fall short.

Cock and Bull Story:
An unbelievable tale.

Come Hell Or High Water:
Any difficult situation or obstacle.

Crack Someone Up:
To make someone laugh.

Cross Your Fingers:
To hope that something happens the way you want it to.

Cry Over Spilt Milk:
When you complain about a loss from the past.

Cry Wolf:
Intentionally raise a false alarm.

Cup Of Joe:
A cup of coffee.

Curiosity Killed The Cat:
Being Inquisitive can lead you into a dangerous situation.

Cut to the Chase:
Leave out all the unnecessary details and just get to the point.

D

Dark Horse:
One who was previously unknown and is now prominent.

Dead Ringer:
100% identical. A duplicate.

Devil's Advocate:
Someone who takes a position for the sake of argument without believing in that particular side of the arguement. It can also mean one who presents a counter argument for a position they do believe in, to another debater.

Dog Days of Summer:
The hottest days of the summer season.

Don't count your chickens before they hatch:
Don't rely on it until your sure of it.

Don't Look A Gift Horse In The Mouth:
When someone gives you a gift, don't be ungrateful.

Don't Put All Your Eggs In One Basket:
Do not put all your resources in one possibility.

Doozy:
Something outstanding.

Down To The Wire:
Something that ends at the last minute or last few seconds.

Drastic Times Call For Drastic Measures:
When you are extremely desperate you need to take extremely desperate actions.

Drink like a fish:
To drink very heavily.

Drive someone up the wall:
To irritate and/or annoy very much.

Dropping Like Flies:
A large number of people either falling ill or dying.

Dry Run:
Rehearsal.

E

Eighty Six:
A certain item is no longer available. Or this idiom can also mean, to throw away.

Elvis has left the building:
The show has come to an end. It's all over.

Ethnic Cleansing:
Killing of a certain ethnic or religious group on a massive scale.

Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining:
Be optomistic, even difficult times will lead to better days.

Everything But The Kitchen Sink:
Almost everything and anything has been included.

Excuse my French:
Please forgive me for cussing.

Cock and Bull Story:
An unbelievable tale.

Cock and Bull Story:
An unbelievable tale.

F

Feeding Frenzy:
An aggressive attack on someone by a group.

Field Day:
An enjoyable day or circumstance.

Finding Your Feet:
To become more comfortable in whatever you are doing.

Finger lickin' good:
A very tasty food or meal.

Fixed In Your Ways:
Not willing or wanting to change from your normal way of doing something.

Flash In The Pan:
Something that shows potential or looks promising in the beginning but fails to deliver anything in the end.

Flea Market:
A swap meet. A place where people gather to buy and sell inexpensive goods.

Flesh and Blood:
This idiom can mean living material of which people are made of, or it can refer to someone's family.

Flip The Bird:
To raise your middle finger at someone.

Foam at the Mouth:
To be enraged and show it.

Fools' Gold:
Iron pyrites, a worthless rock that resembles real gold.

French Kiss:
An open mouth kiss where tongues touch.

From Rags To Riches:
To go from being very poor to being very wealthy.

Fuddy-duddy:
An old-fashioned and foolish type of person.

Full Monty:
This idiom can mean either, "the whole thing" or "completely nude".

Funny Farm:
A mental institutional facility.

G

Get Down to Brass Tacks:
To become serious about something.

Get Over It:
To move beyond something that is bothering you.

Get Up On The Wrong Side Of The Bed:
Someone who is having a horrible day.

Get Your Walking Papers:
Get fired from a job.

Give Him The Slip:
To get away from. To escape.

Go Down Like A Lead Balloon:
To be received badly by an audience.

Go For Broke:
To gamble everything you have.

Go Out On A Limb:
Put yourself in a tough position in order to support someone/something.

Go The Extra Mile:
Going above and beyond whatever is required for the task at hand.

Good Samaritan:
Someone who helps others when they are in need, with no discussion for compensation, and no thought of a reward.

Graveyard Shift:
Working hours from about 12:00 am to 8:00 am. The time of the day when most other people are sleeping.

Great Minds Think Alike:
Intelligent people think like each other.

Green Room:
The waiting room, especially for those who are about to go on a tv or radio show.

Gut Feeling:
A personal intuition you get, especially when feel something may not be right.

H

Haste Makes Waste:
Quickly doing things results in a poor ending.

Hat Trick:
When one player scores three goals in the same hockey game. This idiom can also mean three scores in any other sport, such as 3 homeruns, 3 touchdowns, 3 soccer goals, etc.

Have an Axe to Grind:
To have a dispute with someone.

He Lost His Head:
Angry and overcome by emotions.

Head Over Heels:
Very excited and/or joyful, especially when in love.

Hell in a Handbasket:
Deteriorating and headed for complete disaster.

High Five:
Slapping palms above each others heads as celebration gesture.

High on the Hog:
Living in Luxury.

Hit The Books:
To study, especially for a test or exam.

Hit The Hay:
Go to bed or go to sleep.

Hit The Nail on the Head:
Do something exactly right or say something exactly right.

Hit The Sack:
Go to bed or go to sleep.

Hocus Pocus:
In general, a term used in magic or trickery.

Hold Your Horses:
Be patient.

I

Icing On The Cake:
When you already have it good and get something on top of what you already have.

Idle Hands Are The Devil's Tools:
You are more likely to get in trouble if you have nothing to do.

If It's Not One Thing, It's Another:
When one thing goes wrong, then another, and another...

In Like Flynn:
To be easily successful, especially when sexual or romantic.

In The Bag:
To have something secured.

In The Buff:
Nude.

In The Heat Of The Moment:
Overwhelmed by what is happening in the moment.

In Your Face:
An aggressive and bold confrontation.

It Takes Two To Tango:
A two person conflict where both people are at fault.

It's A Small World:
You frequently see the same people in different places.

Its Anyone's Call:
A competition where the outcome is difficult to judge or predict.

Ivy League:
Since 1954 the Ivy League has been the following universities: Columbia, Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth, Yale, Pennsylvania, Princeton, and Harvard.

J

Jaywalk:
Crossing the street (from the middle) without using the crosswalk.

Joshing Me:
Tricking me.

K

Keep An Eye On Him:
You should carefully watch him.

Keep body and soul together:
To earn a sufficient amount of money in order to keep yourself alive .

Keep your chin up:
To remain joyful in a tough situation.

Kick The Bucket:
Die.

Kitty-corner:
Diagonally across. Sometimes called Catty-Corner as well.

Knee Jerk Reaction:
A quick and automatic response.

Knock On Wood:
Knuckle tapping on wood in order to avoid some bad luck.

Know the Ropes:
To understand the details.

L

Last but not least:
An introduction phrase to let the audience know that the last person mentioned is no less important than those introduced before him/her.

Lend Me Your Ear:
To politely ask for someone's full attention.

Let Bygones Be Bygones:
To forget about a disagreement or arguement.

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie:
To avoid restarting a conflict.

Let The Cat Out Of The Bag:
To share a secret that wasn't suppose to be shared.

Level playing field:
A fair competition where no side has an advantage.

Like a chicken with its head cut off:
To act in a frenzied manner.

liquor someone up:
To get someone drunk.

Long in the Tooth:
Old people (or horses).

Loose Cannon:
Someone who is unpredictable and can cause damage if not kept in check.

M

Make No Bones About:
To state a fact so there are no doubts or objections.

Method To My Madness:
Strange or crazy actions that appear meaningless but in the end are done for a good reason.

Mumbo Jumbo:
Nonsense or meaningless speech.

Mum's the word:
To keep quiet. To say nothing.

N

Nest Egg:
Savings set aside for future use.

Never Bite The Hand That Feeds You:
Don't hurt anyone that helps you.

New kid on the block:
Someone new to the group or area.

New York Minute:
A minute that seems to go by quickly, especially in a fast paced environment.

No Dice:
To not agree. To not accept a proposition.

No Room to Swing a Cat:
An unsually small or confined space.

Not Playing With a Full Deck:
Someone who lacks intelligence.

O

Off On The Wrong Foot:
Getting a bad start on a relationship or task.

Off The Hook:
No longer have to deal with a tough situation.

Off the Record:
Something said in confidence that the one speaking doesn't want attributed to him/her.

On Pins And Needles:
Anxious or nervous, especially in anticipation of something.

On The Fence:
Undecided.

On The Same Page:
When multiple people all agree on the same thing.

Out Of The Blue:
Something that suddenly and unexpectedly occurs.

Out On A Limb:
When someone puts themself in a risky situation.

Out On The Town:
To enjoy yourself by going out.

Over My Dead Body:
When you absolutely will not allow something to happen.

Over the Top:
Very excessive.

P

Pass The Buck:
Avoid responsibility by giving it to someone else.

Pedal to the metal:
To go full speed, especially while driving a vehicle.

Peeping Tom:
Someone who observes people in the nude or sexually active people, mainly for his own gratification.

Pick up your ears:
To listen very carefully.

Pig In A Poke:
A deal that is made without first examining it.

Pig Out :
To eat alot and eat it quickly.

Pipe Down:
To shut-up or be quiet.

Practice Makes Perfect:
By constantly practicing, you will become better.

Pull the plug:
To stop something. To bring something to an end.

Pulling Your Leg:
Tricking someone as a joke.

Put a sock in it:
To tell noisy person or a group to be quiet.

Q

Queer the pitch:
Destroy or ruin a plan.

R

Raincheck:
An offer or deal that is declined right now but willing to accept later.

Raining Cats and Dogs:
A very loud and noisy rain storm.

Ring Fencing:
Seperated usual judgement to guarantee protection, especially project funds.

Rise and Shine:
Time to get out of bed and get ready for work/school.

Rome Was Not Built In One Day:
If you want something to be completely properly, then its going to take time.

Rule Of Thumb:
A rough estimate.

Run out of steam:
To be completely out of energy.

S

Saved By The Bell:
Saved at the last possible moment.

Scapegoat:
Someone else who takes the blame.

Scot-free:
To escape and not have to pay.

Sick As A Dog:
To be very sick (with the flu or a cold).

Sitting Shotgun:
Riding in the front passenger seat of a car.

Sixth Sense:
A paranormal sense that allows you to communicate with the dead.

Skid Row:
The rundown area of a city where the homeless and drug users live.

Smell A Rat:
To detect somone in the group is betraying the others.

Smell Something Fishy:
Detecting that something isn't right and there might be a reason for it.

Son of a Gun:
A scamp.

Southpaw:
Someone who is left-handed.

Spitting Image:
The exact likeness or kind.

Start From Scratch:
To do it all over again from the beginning.

T

The Ball Is In Your Court:
It is your decision this time.

The Best Of Both Worlds:
There are two choices and you have them both.

The Bigger They Are The Harder They Fall:
While the bigger and stronger opponent might be alot more difficult to beat, when you do they suffer a much bigger loss.

The Last Straw:
When one small burden after another creates an unbearable situation, the last straw is the last small burden that one can take.

The Whole Nine Yards:
Everything. All of it.

Third times a charm:
After no success the first two times, the third try is a lucky one.

Tie the knot:
To get married.

Til the cows come home:
A long time.

To Make A Long Story Short:
Something someone would say during a long and boring story in order to keep his/her audience from losing attention. Usually the story isn't shortened.

To Steal Someone's Thunder:
To take the credit for something someone else did.

Tongue-in-cheek:
humor, not to be taken serious.

Turn A Blind Eye:
Refuse to acknowledge something you know is real or legit.

Twenty three skidoo:
To be turned away.

U

Under the weather:
Feeling ill or sick.

Up a blind alley:
Going down a course of action that leads to a bad outcome.

Use Your Loaf:
Use your head. Think smart.

V

Van Gogh's ear for music:
Tone deaf.

Variety Is The Spice Of Life:
The more experiences you try the more exciting life can be.

W

Wag the Dog:
A diversion away from something of greater importance.

Water Under The Bridge:
Anything from the past that isn't significant or important anymore.

Wear Your Heart On Your Sleeve:
To openly and freely express your emotions.

When It Rains, It Pours:
Since it rarely rains, when it does it will be a huge storm.

When Pigs Fly :
Something that will never ever happen.

Wild and Woolly:
Uncultured and without laws.

Wine and Dine:
When somebody is treated to an expensive meal.

Without A Doubt:
For certain.

X

X marks the spot:
A phrase that is said when someone finds something he/she has been looking for.

Y

You Are What You Eat:
In order to stay healthy you must eat healthy foods.

You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover:
Decisions shouldn't be made primarily on appearance.

You Can't Take it With You:
Enjoy what you have and not what you don't have, since when you die you cannot take things (such as money) with you.

Your Guess Is As Good As Mine:
I have no idea.

Z

Zero Tolerance:
No crime or law breaking big or small will be overlooked.