idiom unit 3+4

Give sb the boot

Fire sb from their job

A lame duck

A person/company that is weak/ a failure

Feel the pinch

To suffer because of lack of money

In the red

In debt

Hit rock bottom

To reach the lowest point

In the black

In credit/ making profit

Play with fire

To take dangerous risks

Step into sb’s shoes

To replace sb

A firm hand

Control and discipline

Pay dividends

To bring advantages at a later date

A small fortune

A lot of money

Mean business

To be serious about what one says/intends

Get sth off the ground

To start a business

Bear fruit

To produce good results

Live on a shoestring

To manage with very little money

Burn the midnight oil

To work very late at night to achieve sth

Be rolling in it

To be rich

Keep one’s head above water

To survive despite financial problems

Money down the drain

Money wasted

Tighten one’s belt

To live on a smaller budget

Food for thought

Sth to think about

Whet one’s appetite

To make sb keen to experience/taste more of sth

At a loss for words

Unable to think of anything to say

Make one’s mouth water

To cause sb to desire sth(food)

Cut corners

To use a cheaper/easier method

In full swing

At a very lively stage/point

Pull a few strings

To use influence to achieve sth

Cannot hold a candle to sb/sth

Cannot be compared favorably with sb/sth

Pick up the tab

To pay for sth

Feast one’s eyes on sb/sth

To look with pleasure at sb/sth

Not be one’s cup of tea

Not to be to one’s taste

Scrape the bottom of the barrel

To be left with/ use the worst person or object

Break the ice

To make sb relax/ get conversations started

In the soup

In trouble

Turn one’s stomach

To cause sb to feel sick/disgusted

Cast pearls before swine

To offer sth good to sb who cannot appreciate the value of it

It’s no use crying over spilt milk

There is no point in regretting sth that has happened

Sour grapes

Negative altitude/bitterness because of jealousy

As dry as a bone

Very dry

Up to scratch

Of the desired standard