,

A day late and a dollar short

II something is a day late and a dollar short, it is too little, too late.
All bets are oII
II all bets are oII, then agreements that have been made no longer apply.
All hat, no cattle
When someone talks big, but cannot back it up, they are all hat, no cattle.('Big hat, no
cattle' is also used.)
All over Hell's halI acre
II you have been all over Hell's halI acre, you have been traveling and visiting many
more places than originally intended, usually because you were unsuccessIul in Iinding
what you were looking Ior. It can also be used to mean everywhere.
All over the map
II something like a discussion is all over the map, it doesn't stick to the main topic and
goes oII on tangents.
As mad as a wrongly shot hog
II someone is as mad as a wrongly shot hog, they are very angry. (Same as, Angry as a
bear or Angry as a bull).
As rare as hen's teeth
Something that is rare as hen's teeth is very rare or non-existent.
At a drop oI a dime
II someone will do something at the drop oI a dime, they will do it instantly, without
hesitation.
At loose ends
II you are at a loose end, you have spare time but don't know what to do with it.
At the bottom oI the totem pole
II someone is at the bottom oI the totem pole, they are unimportant. Opposite is at the top
oI the totem pole.
At the end oI your rope
II you are at the end oI your rope, you are at the limit oI your patience or endurance.
Be out in leIt Iield
To be out in leIt Iield is not to know what's going on.
Beat someone to the draw
II you beat someone to the draw, you do something beIore they do.
Beating a dead horse
II someone is trying to convince people to do or Ieel something without any hope oI
succeeding, they're beating a dead horse. This is used when someone is trying to raise
interest in an issue that no-one supports anymore; beating a dead horse will not make it
do any more work.
Bells on
To be somewhere with bells on means to arrive there happy and delighted to attend.
Belt and suspenders
Someone who wears belt and suspenders is very cautious and takes no risks.
Bet your bottom dollar
II you can bet your bottom dollar on something, you can be absolutely sure about it.
Blow smoke
II people blow smoke, they exaggerate or say things that are not true, usually to make
themselves look better.
Can't dance and it's too wet to plow
When you can't dance and it's too wet to plow, you may as well do something because
you can't or don't have the opportunity to do anything else.
Cat's pajamas
Something that is the cat's pajamas is excellent.
Caught with your hand in the cookie jar
II someone is caught with his or her hand in the cookie jar, he or she is caught doing
something wrong.
Circle the wagons
II you circle the wagons, you stop communicating with people who don't think the same
way as you to avoid their ideas. It can also mean to bring everyone together to deIend a
group against an attack.
Close but no cigar
II you are close but no cigar, you are close to success or the truth, but have not got there.
Cooking with gas
II you're cooking with gas, you're working very eIIiciently.
Curve ball
II something is a curve ball, it is deceptive.
Cute as a bug
II something is as cute as a bug, it is sweet and endearing.

DiIIerent strokes Ior diIIerent Iolks
This idiom means that diIIerent people do things in diIIerent ways that suit them.
Dime a dozen
II something is a dime a dozen, it is extremely common, possibly too common.
Dog and pony show
A dog and pony show is a presentation or some marketing that has lots oI style, but no
real content.
Dollars Ior doughnuts
II something is dollars Ior doughnuts, it is a sure bet or certainty.
Don't sweat the small stuII
This is used to tell people not to worry about trivial or unimportant issues.
Don't take any wooden nickels
This idiom is used to advise people not to be cheated or ripped oII.
Down to the wire
II something goes down to the wire, like a competition, then it goes to the very last
moment beIore it is clear who has won.
Drop a dime
II you drop a dime, you inIorm the police about someone's illegal activities.
Drop in the bucket
A drop in the bucket is something so small that it won't make any noticeable diIIerence.
tree.
Duck soup
II something is duck soup, it is very easy.
Ducks in a row
II you have your ducks in a row, you are well-organized.
Eat crow
II you eat crow, you have to admit that you were wrong about something.
Fair shake oI the whip
II everybody has a Iair shake oI the whip, they all have equal opportunities to do
something.
Fall oII the turnip truck
II someone has just Iallen oII the turnip truck, they are uninIormed, naive and gullible.
(OIten used in the negative)
FiIth wheel
A IiIth wheel is something unnecessary or useless.
Fish or cut bait
This idiom is used when you want to tell someone that it is time to take action.
Forest Ior the trees
II someone can't see the Iorest Ior the trees, they get so caught up in small details that
they Iail to understand the bigger picture.