Chance one's arm
Idiom
Deciding to do something even though the chances of success are slim or unknown.
Example
She decided to chance her arm and apply for the scholarship.
CEFR idiom glossary
C1 Idioms & Expressions
More opaque, culturally loaded, or stylistically marked idioms for advanced learners.
Go belly up
Idiom
Fail completely.
Example
The restaurant went belly up after six months.
Hard as nails
Idiom
Without sentiment or sympathy for anyone.
Example
Our old coach was hard as nails.
Heart is in the right place
Idiom
Having good intentions, even if the results may not be impressive.
Example
His heart is in the right place, even if his plans are unrealistic.
In the right place at the right time
Idiom
When something happens fortuitously or when given an unexpected opportunity.
Example
He got the role because he was in the right place at the right time.
In tune with someone (on the same wavelength)
Idiom
Have the same ideas and be in agreement with someone else.
Example
We work well together because we are in tune with each other.
Keep something at bay
Idiom
Keep something away or prevent something from happening.
Example
These nets help keep the insects at bay.
Month of Sundays
Idiom
A very long period of time.
Example
I have not been back there in a month of Sundays.
Murphy's law
Idiom
Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.
Example
When the power failed during the show, we joked that it was Murphy's law.
Off one's rocker
Idiom
Crazy; demented; out of one's mind; in a confused or befuddled state of mind; senile.
Example
Anyone who tries that stunt must be off their rocker.
Pulling out all the stops
Idiom
Doing everything you can to make something happen.
Example
The campaign team is pulling out all the stops before election day.
Red herring
Idiom
Unimportant matter that misleads and draws attention away.
Example
The missing wallet turned out to be a red herring in the case.
Sell ice to Eskimos
Idiom
Persuade people to go against their best interests or to accept something unnecessary.
Example
She could sell ice to Eskimos with that kind of confidence.
Stiff upper lip
Idiom
Not showing emotions.
Example
She kept a stiff upper lip during the funeral.
Stuck in a time warp
Idiom
Not changed for a very long time, when everything else around has.
Example
That little diner feels stuck in a time warp.
Taste of your own medicine
Idiom
Something happens to you, or is done to you, that you have done to someone else.
Example
After teasing others for months, he finally got a taste of his own medicine.
The ship has sailed
Idiom
A particular opportunity has passed and is no longer available.
Example
You can ask again, but the ship has sailed on that deal.
Until hell freezes over
Idiom
Something will never happen, no matter how hard or long you try for it to.
Example
He says he will apologize when hell freezes over.
Whole nine yards
Idiom
Everything. All of it.
Example
For the wedding, they went the whole nine yards.
Wooden spoon
Idiom
Imaginary prize for the last person in a race.
Example
He joked that he would at least win the wooden spoon if he finished last.