SUCCESS, FAILURE, chance and OPPORTUNITY

Acid test

Proves the effectiveness of something.

Back to the drawing board

When an attempt fails and it's time to start all over.

Ball is in your court

It is up to you to make the next decision or take the next step.

Blow up in the face

A plan or project that suddenly fails.

Bottom falls out

A plan or project that fails.

Broken watch is right twice a day

When something is lucky or successful but undeserving.

By the skin of your teeth

Only just succeed.

Chance one's arm

Deciding to do something even though the chances of success are slim or unknown.

Chase rainbows

Try to achieve something that is very difficult, impossible or very desirable.

Chase your tail

Spend a lot of time and energy but achieve nothing.

Cook someone's goose

Spoil the person's chance of success.

Cut one's own throat

Doing something that will cause your own failure or downfall.

Cut the mustard

To succeed; to come up to expectations; adequate enough to compete or participate.

Dead duck

Plan or event that has failed or is certain to fail and therefore not worth discussing.

Dead in the water

Plan or project that has ceased to function and is not expected to re-activate.

Don't count your chickens before they've hatched

Don't make plans for something that might not happen.

Don't put all your eggs in one basket

Don't make everything dependent on only one thing.

First in, best dressed

The opportunity is afforded to the first to arrive or present themselves.

First out of the gate

Being the first one to make a start at something.

Getting the show on the road

Putting a plan or idea into action.

Go belly up

Fail completely.

Going places

Demonstrating talent and ability that will lead to success.

Golden opportunity

A very good opportunity that may never present itself again.

Hit the big time

To become successful.

In the bag

Something that is assured or a guaranteed success.

In the right place at the right time

When something happens fortuitously or when given an unexpected opportunity.

In the wrong place at the wrong time

When something unlucky happens that would not normally have happened.

Kill two birds with one stone

Accomplish two different things at the same time.

Landslide victory

Overwhelming victory.

Last straw

The final problem in a series of problems that leads to a bad thing happening.

Let slip through fingers

Failing to obtain or retain a good opportunity.

Lick one's wounds

Trying to regain confidence after a defeat.

Make or break

Circumstances causing total success or total failure.

Make the grade

Be satisfactory or at an accepted level.

Making a go of it

Attempting to succeed at something.

Making headway

Making progress in what you are trying to do.

Miss the boat

Miss a chance or opportunity.

Murphy's law

Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.

Never in a million years

Will never happen.

Off to a flying start

Something that is immediately successful or has begun well.

Pass with flying colours

Pass with a high score.

Place in the sun

A position that provides you all the success and happiness you want.

Pull the plug

Terminate or discontinue something.

Pulling out all the stops

Doing everything you can to make something happen.

Punch above one's weight

Performing beyond your ability.

Raise the white flag

Accept defeat and surrender to the other party.

Sail through something

Being successful at something without difficulty.

Sink or swim

Fail or succeed.

Smash hit

A big success.

Spanner in the works

Suddenly disrupt something by introducing something unexpected or unwanted.

Steal someone's thunder

Take the credit for something someone else did.

Up in smoke

Something that ends before getting a result.

Wooden spoon

Imaginary prize for the last person in a race.

Works like a charm

Works very well or as expected.

a blind alley (C1)

a course of action leading nowhere

a feather in your cap (C1)

an achievement to be proud of

bring the house down (C1)

make an audience applaud enthusiastically

draw a blank (C1)

fail to remember something

make a clean sweep of (C1)

get rid of everything unwanted

rise to the occasion (C1)

deal successfully with a difficult problem

set your heart on sth (C1)

have a strong desire for or to do

with flying colours (C1)

very well, with a very high mark

a nail in the coffin (C2)

an event that causes the failure of sth

bite the dust (C2)

die, fail, or be defeated

get/take a free ride (C1)

get something without paying for it

a fighting chance (C2)

a small possibility to succeed

a second/another bite at the cherry (C2)

another opportunity to do something

a vested interest (C2)

a personal stake in something

be waiting in the wings (C2)

be ready to do something

climb/jump on the bandwagon (C2)

join an activity that has become popular

make hay while the sun shines (C2)

act while an opportunity exists

miss the boat (C2)

fail to take advantage of an opportunity

Murphy's/sod's law (C2)

anything that can go wrong, will go wrong

push your luck (C2)

try too hard to get a particular result

risk life and limb (B2)

do something that is very dangerous

stay/be on the safe side (B2)

avoiding danger, with a margin for error

a close call/shave (C1)

a narrow (often lucky) escape

keep/get your head down (C1)

try to avoid getting involved in something

play (it) safe (C1)

be careful and not take risks

cry wolf (C2)

raise a false alarm

sail close to the wind (C2)

say something that is nearly wrong, illegal

wrap sb (up) in cotton wool (C2)

try to protect someone too carefully

as likely as not (B1)

probably, with an even chance either way

all or nothing (B2)

not allowing for compromise

be bound to (B2)

be very likely or certain to do something

beat somebody black and blue (B2)

hit somebody until they are badly bruised

break a leg (B2)

wish a performer "good luck"

come in handy/useful (B2)

be useful for a particular purpose

come to an end (B2)

wind down to an ending or conclusion

cry over spilt milk (B2)

lament what cannot be changed

draw the line at something (B2)

set a specific limit on one's behavior

first come, first served (B2)

people will be dealt with strictly in order

give the green light to something (B2)

give the permission to start or continue sth

keep up appearances (B2)

maintain an impression of well-being

keep your fingers crossed (B2)

hope strongly that something will happen

kick the habit (B2)

break or stop a bad habit

make all the difference (B2)

be a crucial or deciding factor

make life difficult (for somebody) (B2)

cause a lot of problems or stress for sb

make a name for yourself (B2)

become famous, get a reputation

might as well (B2)

because there is nothing better