English idioms relating to situations

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English idioms relating to SITUATIONS (description / action / reaction)
Add fuel to the flames	If you add fuel to the flames, you say something that makes a difficult situation worse. "He forgot their wedding anniversary, and his apologies only added fuel to the flames."
Back to the wall	If you have your back to the wall, you are in serious difficulty. "With his back to the wall, the supplier had to accept the deal."
In the balance	If something is in the balance, it means the situation is uncertain and it is not clear what is going to happen. "The future of the company is in the balance while the takeover bid is being examined."
The best of both worlds	If a person has the best of both worlds, they have the benefits and advantages of two different things. "We live in the centre of town, but only 5 minutes from the beach. We have the best of both worlds."
Between the devil and the deep blue sea	If you are between the devil and the deep blue sea, you are in a situation where there are two equally unpleasant alternatives. "When the new product didn't take off, the management was caught between the devil and the deep blue sea: develop a new marketing campaign or drop the product."
Bury one's head in the sand	If you bury your head in the sand, you refuse to face the unpleasant reality by pretending that the situation doesn't exist. "It's no good burying your head in the sand. We've got a problem on our hands."
Bury the hatchet :	The expression " bury the hatchet" is used when people who have had a disagreement decide to forget their quarrel and become friends again. "I didn't agree with my colleague's decision, but for the sake of peace, I decided to bury the hatchet."
Can of worms	To describe a situation as a can of worms means that it is complicated, unpleasant and difficult to deal with. "The discovery of the transfer of funds turned out to be a real can of worms."
Can't see the wood for the trees	If someone can't see the wood for the trees, they are so concentrated on the details that they can't see the situation as a whole. "The new manager found the situation so complicated that he couldn't see the wood for the trees."
Catch 22	A catch 22 situation refers to a frustrating situation where you need to do one thing before doing a second, and you cannot do the second before doing the first. "I can't get a job without a work permit, and I can't get a work permit without a job. It's a catch 22 situation!"
Come to a head	If a problem or difficult situation comes to a head, it reaches a point where action has to be taken. "The problem came to a head yesterday when rioting broke out in the streets."
Come to grips with something	If you come to grips with a problem or situation, you start to understand or deal with it properly "After the initial shock, the patient began to come to grips with his illness."
Come to the crunch	To talk about what to do if or when a situation comes to the crunch, means when it becomes difficult or critical and a decision has to be made. "If it comes to the crunch, I'll sell my car."
Cut and dried	To refer to a situation, a problem or a solution as cut and dried means that it is considered clear and straightforward with no likely complications. "When the new manager arrived, he didn't find the situation as cut and dried as he had expected."
Cut the atmosphere with a knife	To say that you could cut the atmosphere with a knife means that the atmosphere is extremely tense or unfriendly.
The die is cast	To say that the die is cast means that an irrevocable decision has been made which will determine the future. "I've handed in my resignation so now the die is cast!"
Different kettle of fish	To describe a situation as a different kettle of fish means that it is completely different from what was previously mentioned. "You may have good business relations, but living in the country is a different kettle of fish."
Dog's life	People use this expression when complaining about a situation or job which they find unpleasant or unsatisfactory. "It's a dog's life working in the after-sales department."
In the doghouse	If you are in the doghouse, somebody is angry with you because you have done something wrong. "Mark is in the doghouse because he damaged his father's car."
In the doldrums	To say that a person, a business or the economy in general is in the doldrums means that the situation is gloomy and that nothing new is happening. Despite the recent measures, the economy remains in the doldrums."
The dust has settled	To say that the dust has settled means that the situation has become calmer after a series of unpleasant or chaotic events. "After her difficult divorce, she waited until the dust had settled before making any plans."
Eye of the storm	A person or organization who is in the eye of the storm is deeply involved in a difficult situation which affects a lot of people "The minister was often in the eye of the storm during the debate on the war in Iraq."
Fait accompli	This French term refers to something that has been done and cannot be changed. "He used his savings to buy a motorbike and then presented his parents with a fait accompli."
Fiddling while Rome burns	If you say that somebody is fiddling while Rome burns, you mean that they are doing unimportant things while there are serious problems to be dealt with "His visit to the trade fair was 'fiddling while Rome burns' according to the strikers."
In the firing line	Someone who is in the firing line is in a position to be criticized because of their responsibilities or the position they hold. "The managing director of the bank is in the firing line since the fraud was discovered."
Forewarned is forearmed	This expression means that if you know something is going to happen, you can be prepared for it. "The Chairman is going to attend the meeting tomorrow. Your presentation had better be good. Forewarned is forearmed.!"
Other things being equal	This expression refers to a probable situation if the conditions elsewhere remain unchanged or equal. "Other things being equal, a reduction in the cost of transport should enable us to lower our prices."
Out of the frying pan and into the fire.	This expression means to go from one difficult situation to another, usually even worse. "The flight was delayed because of snow. When the plane eventually took off, it had to turn back because of engine trouble - out of the frying pan into the fire!"
Have all your eggs in one basket	If you have all your eggs in one basket, you depend on one plan or one source of income. "If you invest your savings in one bank, you'll have all your eggs in one basket."
Have one's hands tied	If a person has their hands tied, something, such as an agreement or a rule, is preventing them from doing what they would like to do. "Mark deserves to earn more, but the manager's hands are tied by the recent salary agreement."
High and dry	If you are left high and dry, you find yourself in a difficult situation without help or resources "When her husband walked out on her, Amanda was left high and dry with two kids to raise."
Hot potato	To refer to a subject as a hot potato means that it is a very sensitive and controversial matter which is difficult to deal with. "The new Prime Minister hasn't been confronted with any hot potatoes yet."
Icing on the cake	If something is referred to as icing on the cake, it is an extra benefit that makes a good situation even better. "Good news! I get the job ... and the icing on the cake is that I get a company car too."
In a rut	If you are in a rut, you have a monotonous and boring way of life. "If you feel you're in a rut, why don't you look for a new job?"
Ins and Outs	The ins and outs of a situation means all the details or facts. "I know he was involved in a car accident, but I don't know the ins and outs of his injuries".
Leave well alone	If you leave well alone, you decide not to interfere with or change something that is acceptable or adequate. "It would be hard to get a better deal. Let's just leave well alone."
The left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing	This expression means that communication within a group or organization is so bad that people don't know what the others are doing.
Let sleeping dogs lie.	If you tell somebody to let sleeping dogs lie, you are asking them not to interfere with a situation because they could cause problems.
At loggerheads	If you are at loggerheads with a person or organization, you disagree very strongly with them. "Management and trade unions are at loggerheads over the decision to close down the plant."
Make hay while the sun shines	This expression is used as an encouragement to take advantage of a good situation which may not last. Successful sportsmen are advised to make hay while the sun shines.
Millstone around your neck	Something described as a millstone around your neck refers to a problem or responsibility that becomes a burden and a source of worry. "The money he borrowed became a millstone around his neck"
Paint oneself into a corner	If you paint yourself into a corner, you get yourself into a bad situation that it is difficult or impossible to get out of. "Andy painted himself into a corner by signing a contract with a friend who turned out to be incompetent."
Pick up the pieces	After something disastrous has happened, if you pick up the pieces, you do what you can to get the situation back to normal again. "After fire destroyed their house, it took them a long time to pick up the pieces."
Play for time	If you play for time, you try to delay or prevent something from happening in order to gain an advantage. "He decided to play for time in the hope that the price would decrease."
Play the game	If you play the game, you accept to do things according to the rules laid down by others.
Play gooseberry	If you play gooseberry, you join or accompany two people who have a romantic relationship and want to be alone. "They invited me to join them but I didn't want to play gooseberry."
Play havoc	If someone or something plays havoc, they cause disorder and confusion. "The floods played havoc with the construction work."
Pour oil on troubled waters	If a person pours oil on troubled waters, they do or say something to calm a tense situation. "James is an good negotiator, and always manages to pour oil on troubled waters."
Prolong the agony	If someone prolongs the agony, they make an unpleasant situation last longer than necessary. "Please don't prolong the agony. Just tell me whether I've been accepted or not."
If/when push comes to shove	You use the expression if, or when, push comes to shove, to refer to what you will do if the situation becomes critical and you have to make a decision or take action. "There should be enough room for everyone, but if push comes to shove we can go to the hotel."
Put somebody on the spot	If you put somebody on the spot, you put them in a difficult situation, for example by asking embarrassing or difficult questions which they cannot avoid. "When the reporter was asked to reveal his source, he was really put on the spot."
It never rains but it pours	This expression is used to comment on the fact that when something bad happens, other bad things often happen too, and make the situation even worse. "First he forgot his briefcase, then he lost his wallet, and when he reached the car park, his car had been stolen - it never rains but it pours!"
Run with the hare and hunt with the hounds	This expression refers to someone who wants to stay on friendly terms with both sides in a quarrel "Bob always wants to keep everyone happy, but I'm afraid he can't run with the hare and hunt with the hounds this time - the issue is too important."
Recipe for disaster	If you refer to a plan or an idea as a recipe for disaster, you think it is likely to produce bad results. "Our two families together for Christmas? Sounds like a recipe for disaster!"
Same boat	If two or more parties in the same boat, they are in the same unpleasant or difficult situation. "When the factory closed down, the workers all found themselves in the same boat."
Saved by the bell	If you are saved by the bell, something happens at the last minute to rescue you from a difficult situation. "Saved by the bell! A friend arrived just when I realized I had no money for the parking metre!"
Set the records straight	If you set or put the records straights, you provide facts or an explanation of events in order to correct a mistake or misunderstanding. "An interview on television enabled the actress to set the records straight about her health."
On a sticky wicket	If you find yourself on a sticky wicket, you are in a situation that is difficult to deal with. "They've refused to sign the contract so we're on a sticky wicket now!"
Sublime to ridiculous	If something goes from the sublime to the ridiculous, it deteriorates in quality from serious or admirable to absurd or unimportant. "An opera followed by a Mr Muscle contest is going from the sublime to the ridiculous!"
Take the rap	If you take the rap for something, you accept blame or punishment for something, even if you have not done it. "The whole class had to the take the rap for the disorder."
Take something in your stride	When in a difficult situation, you take it in your stride, you deal with the situation calmly and without any special effort. "When the take-over was announced, Tom stayed calm and took it in his stride."
Upset the applecart	To upset (or to overturn) the applecart means to spoil a satisfactory plan or situation "I hope Julie doesn't attend the meeting - she could upset the applecart!"
Walk into the lion's den	If you walk into the lion's den, you find yourself in a difficult situation in which you have to face unfriendly or aggressive people.
Walk a tightrope	If a person is walking a tightrope, they are in a difficult or delicate situation where they must act carefully. "The management is walking a tightrope in their efforts both to keep the costs down and satisfy the trade unions. "
Weather the storm	If you weather the storm, you succeed in surviving a difficult period or situation. "Given the current recession, the company is weathering the storm better than some others."
When push comes to shove.	You use the expression when push comes to shove to refer to what you will do when a situation makes it necessary to take action.
When in Rome, do as the Romans.	This expression means that you should adopt the customs of the people or country you are visiting, and behave in the same way.
Win-win	The term win-win refers to a situation or proposition where both or all parties benefit from the outcome. "There were smiles all round when the contract was signed - it was a win-win situation."
While the going is good	If you take an action while the going is good, you do something before the situation changes and it becomes impossible. "There's a 50% discount on subscriptions this month. I think I'll subscribe while the going is good."

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