Phrases & Expressions

To look extremely ill, pale, and exhausted.

• You look like death warmed up! Have you slept?
• After the long journey, he looked like death warmed up.

A situation where it is impossible to know which of two things caused the other.

• We can't hire staff until we get funding, but we can't get funding without staff. It's a chicken-and-egg situation.
• Is it the economy causing unemployment, or unemployment causing the bad economy? It's a chicken-and-egg situation.

In a frantic, disorganized, or panicked manner, without clear direction.

• Ken was late for work and couldn't find his car keys — he was running around the apartment like a chicken with its head cut off.
• Patricia ran around the school looking for her lost backpack like a chicken with its head cut off.

To release gas from the digestive system through the anus.

• It is considered rude to break wind in public.
• He accidentally broke wind during the meeting.

To stay safely at home during a crisis or emergency, rather than leaving.

• During the storm, we decided to bug in.
• The advice was to bug in and stay indoors.

To falsify financial records, usually illegally.

• The accountant was accused of cooking the books.
• They cooked the books to hide their losses.

To turn an engine with the starter motor so that it starts.

• Turn the key and crank it over.
• The engine wouldn't crank over on the cold morning.

To dance with great energy and enthusiasm, often in a lively social setting.

• The music was great, so we decided to cut a rug.
• They really cut a rug at the wedding reception.

To admit you were wrong and apologize humbly.

• He had to eat humble pie after his prediction failed.
• She had to eat humble pie and ask for forgiveness.

To enjoy yourself a lot, often by spending money on parties and luxuries.

• The lottery winners were living it up on a yacht in the Caribbean.
• After the promotion, she went out to live it up with friends.