Phrases & Expressions

To decide to forget past arguments or disagreements and move on.

• We had a fight, but let bygones be bygones.
• It's time to let bygones be bygones.

Extremely difficult to do, especially when it requires great effort to get someone to cooperate.

• It's like pulling teeth getting Max to talk about his girlfriend.
• Kyle hates to study — it's like pulling teeth getting him to do his homework every night.

To deliberately overlook wrongdoing, as though you hadn't seen it.

• The authorities looked the other way when the crime happened.
• He decided to look the other way and avoid trouble.

In fly fishing, to use a fly that looks like the insects fish are eating at that moment.

• Matching the hatch finally turned a slow morning around.
• Matching the hatch is part observation, part trial and error.

Mutual understanding and agreement between parties, especially in a legal context.

• The judge looked for a meeting of the minds.
• Without a meeting of the minds, the deal failed.

Something serious that should not be treated as a joke.

• When the tornado hit the town, it was no laughing matter.
• Jim may have been fooling around when he hit John, but he really hurt him — it was no laughing matter.

Not even for a huge reward; used to say you would never do something.

• Not for all the tea in China would I move there!
• She wouldn't sell her car for all the tea in China.

(Informal) To not care at all about something or someone.

• Tom likes to walk around town in his pajamas — he doesn't give a hoot what people think.
• Stephanie doesn't give a hoot if she's the only one in a green dress at the prom.

Not drinking alcohol, especially for a period of time.

• After the doctor's warning, he went on the wagon for good.
• He's been on the wagon since January.

To fall asleep very quickly and deeply.

• After the long hike, he was out like a light.
• The baby went out like a light as soon as we put her down.