Work on Your Idioms

If you call the shots you are the person who makes all the important decisions in an organization or situation.

If you overstep the mark you offend people by doing something that is considered to be rude or unacceptable.

If someone knows where to draw the line they know at what point an activity or situation stops being reasonable and starts to be unacceptable.

If something or someone gains ground, they make progress and become more important or more powerful.

If you win a contest hands down, you win it easily.

If it is touch and go whether something will happen, you cannot be certain whether it will happen or not.

If you are full of beans you are very happy and energetic.

A saving grace is a good quality or feature in someone or something that prevents them from being completely bad or worthless.

If you have your hands full you are very busy.

If you tighten your belt you make an effort to spend less money.

If something costs an arm and a leg it costs a lot of money.

If you play safe or play it safe, you do not take any risks.

If the coast is clear you are able to do something because nobody is there to see you doing it.

If someone has a close shave they very nearly have a bad accident or very nearly suffer a defeat.

If trying to find something is like looking for a needle in a haystack, it is extremely difficult or impossible.

If something is in the pipeline, it is being planned or developed.

If two people or groups kiss and make up, they become friends again after an argument or fight.

If a process or an activity grinds to a halt, it gradually becomes slower or less active until it stops.

If you steer clear of someone or something, you deliberately avoid them.

If someone is in the picture, they are involved in the situation you are talking about.