Idioms - 4

Idioms – 4  (Source: Learn English Today)

burn your bridges

If you burn your bridges, you do something that will be impossible to rectify in the future. If you refuse the offer, be careful not to burn your bridges by insulting them. They may make a better proposal later.

burn the candle at both ends	If you burn the candle at both ends, you exhaust yourself by doing too much, especially going to bed late and getting up early. Scott looks exhausted - I'll bet he's been burning the candle at both ends lately.
butter somebody up				When you butter someone up, you flatter them or you are very nice to them, especially if you want to obtain something. He was so keen to get the job that he spent his time buttering up the boss.
cap in hand				If you do something cap in hand, you ask for something in a very respectful manner. They went to the teacher, cap in hand, and asked for more time to complete their project.
chance one's arm		If you chance your arm, you decide to do something even though there is little hope of success. Tony knew there was little hope of getting into Harvard but he decided to chance his arm anyway.
cheap shot		A cruel, unfair or unwarranted comment or verbal attack is called a cheap shot. Referring to Tom as an 'unqualified speaker' was really a cheap shot.
come apart at the seams		To say that someone is coming apart at the seams means that they are extremely upset or under severe mental stress. Bob has had so many problems lately; he's coming apart at the seams.
cramp someone's style		If you cramp someone's style you do something to prevent them from behaving freely, or performing to the best of their ability. I can't paint with people watching me - it cramps my style!.
cross the Rubicon		If you cross the Rubicon, you make an irreversible decision or commit to a course of action that cannot be changed. After careful consideration, he decided to stop teaching and open an art gallery, knowing that he was crossing the Rubicon.
cut the cackle		If you tell a group of people to cut the cackle, you are asking them to stop talking aimlessly and start dealing with more important or serious matters. OK. It's time to cut the cackle and get down to business
dig one's own grave		A person who digs their own grave does something which causes their own downfall. If you drop out of college now, with such high unemployment, you'll be digging your own grave.
do a disappearing act				If someone does a disappearing act, they simply vanish, especially if they have done something wrong or dishonest. Just before the police arrived, the suspect did a disappearing act.
do more harm than good				If the effect of an action is more damaging than helpful, it does more harm than good. Giving him money did more harm than good - he spent it on alcohol.
eat crow				If you eat crow, you admit that you were wrong about something and apologize. He had no option but to eat crow and admit that his analysis was wrong.
excuse/pardon my French			This expression is used as an apology for using crude or offensive language. He's a bloody nuisance, if you'll excuse my French.

false move	In a dangerous or risky situation, if you make a false move, you do something which may have unpleasant consequences. He is under close surveillance. If he makes one false move he'll be arrested.
feed the kitty	If you feed the kitty, you contribute to a collection of money called a 'kitty' in order to help a good cause. Come on! Every little helps. You should feed the kitty for a good cause!
fiddling while Rome burns	To say that someone is fiddling while Rome burns means 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.
fight a losing battle	If someone is fighting a losing battle, they are trying to do something even when there is little chance of succeeding. The headmaster is fighting a losing battle trying to ban mobile phones at school.