idioms

Bark up the wrong tree

Meaning:

To misunderstand a situation and complain to a wrong person or blame a wrong thing.

If someone is barking up the wrong tree, he/she has an incorrect idea about a situation, and his/her course of action is wrong.


Example:

Don't blame me. I have nothing to do with it. You are barking up the wrong tree.

The committee spent more than 5 month to try to solve the problem. They were just barking up the wrong tree.

 

Beat around the bush

Meaning:

Avoid or delay talking about something unpleasant or embarrassing

If you beat around the bush, you don't say something directly to someone because you are worried about his/her reaction and don't want to upset him/her.

Some people also say " beat about the bush. "


Example:

Don't beat around the bush! Tell me what exactly you want.

Let's not beat around the bush anymore. You'd better do this project over. It's not acceptable to us.

 

Bite off more than one can chew

Meaning:

To try to do something that is too difficult

If you bite off more than you can chew, you try to do more than you are able to.


Example:

She has bitten off more than she can chew again. She has agreed to finish 3 very difficult projects by the end of this year.

Do your best. Do whatever you can, but don't bite off more than you can chew.

 

Beat it

Meaning:

Go away immediately.

If you say "Beat it" to someone, you tell him/her to leave quickly because he/she is annoying. This is an impolite command.

 

Example:

I guess we should beat it before she comes back.

"This is not your place. Beat it!" (This is not a polite way to ask someone to leave.)

 

Be as American as apple pie

Meaning:

Be typically American

If something or someone is as American as apple pie, it/he/she is typically or completely American.


Example:

Jose and Maria came to the U.S. 10 years ago and still keep the traditions of their home country. However, their children are as American as apple pie.

An American couple opened a restaurant in Japan, and their food tasts as American as apple pie.

The Bottom Line

Meaning:

The most important factor in a situation or a decision to consider.

If you say the bottom line is xxxx, you mean xxxx is the most important or critical fact you want others to consider.


Note: The original meaning of the bottom line is the final line of an accounting report of a company or an organization.
That line shows how much money the company/organization has earned or lost during a particular period of time.


Example:

After a long heated discussion, the manager finally said, "The bottom line is, we have a limited budget and simply can't continue this project any longer."

I've heard enough of your excuses. What's the bottom line?